Trust & Respect
4/26/2019
This week, the fourth and fifth grade classes took a look at trust and respect, two very vital building blocks not just for the classroom, but for life, in general. When it comes to trust, not all relationships are at the same level. Based on the context of the given relationship – professional, personal, family, social – each one can experience a different level of trust. In class this week, we discussed these different levels of trust for different times and places. We also examined how much people have in common, and how trust and respect help us smooth over our differences and help us work together. Extending trust and respect is a part of life, and doing so wisely and with care are important skills. In the following clips, student practice extending their trust by working in teams to run relay races with another blindfolded student, all the while respecting their partner's boundaries. For example, certain students preferred to be led by the arm or hand, others preferred to be led by the shoulder, and others preferred to be led by voice. In these clips, watch as students work together to understand each other's preferred methods to be addressed and led. It's not the same for any two students. Fractions, Fractions & More Fractions...In math, third and fourth grade took the time for some fun, too. We played a few games in order to practice multiplying fractions. In the video below, fourth grade's Evan challenged the teacher to a game of multiplying fractions. The goal was to use three numbers to create a fraction-based multiplication problem that resulted in a product as close to one as possible. Just For Fun...The weather has been a little weird this past week. In this photo, third grade's Carson shows off a snowcat he's made... in late April!
Mosquitoes: The Lord of the Flies
4/20/2019
It is April, the snow is melting and the temperature is rising. As the flowers bloom in the spring, mosquitoes burst to life. Alaska is home to 35 species of mosquitoes, some even say mosquitoes are our official "state bird". With the incessant buzzing and blood sucking, some people claim mosquitoes are the most dangerous animal in the world because of the fatal diseases they spread. Mosquitoes are not just annoying, they are a problem! Read on to see how third grade students try to solve this real-world problem. This Project-Based Learning unit is aligned with NGSS 3rd Grade Life Science. Throughout the unit, student learning was driven by student inquiry. Students worked in pairs and groups to answer questions and learn more about mosquitoes including their life cycle and habitat. Then, they came up with different solutions or ways to get rid of mosquitoes. Group 1 came up with a bug spray that would help repel mosquitoes. Groups 2 and 3 came up with mosquito traps. Group 4 came up with some posters that provide helpful tips to prevent mosquito bites. Third graders publicly showcased their learning and presented their products at PNA's first annual Science Party. Students taught the community how to build mosquito traps, create repellants, and some other ways to prevent mosquito bites. On a rainy spring or a hot summer day, third grade wishes that you all remember their tips to solve some of your mosquito problems. ERBs, Warmups & Celebrations!
4/12/2019
Is there any word that strikes more fear into the hearts of students than the dreaded word... TEST?Probably not. Well, last week the Third, Fourth and Fifth Graders completed eight ERB (Educational Research Bureau) tests. While testing was intense, with some sessions lasting as long at forty-five minutes, it's a good way to get a general feel for how a child is progressing in their development. Tests are certainly not the only way to evaluate a child's growth, but they are one aspect among many important others through which to examine progress. We'd love to show you some pictures, but you probably find pictures of kids slumped over desks about as exciting as the kids involved in the testing. Instead, we'll show you the ways in which students blew off steam in order to maintain their sanity before, between and after tests. With all of the testing going on, the Third, Fourth and Fifth Grades were able to start each and every day with some ridiculously vigorous workouts. As a matter of fact, in the video below, a Fifth Grade student leads the morning game. Social Studies TalksBut it wasn't all about test taking! This week, the Fourth and Fifth Grade polished up Social Studies presentations in front of a live audience of Third graders. Our first step was to write up our presentations and then try them out before a live audience (each other), carefully evaluating each performance. Students were recorded and then allowed to watch themselves, evaluate their work, and polish until they were happy with them. The idea was to instill in them the value of drafting and practicing, and how important it is to growth. In many of the videos below, you'll see examples of Fourth and Fifth Graders before and after practicing and polishing. Please take a look at the growth and progress of a few of them. Here is Nevaeh before practicing and polishing... And here is Nevaeh after! Evan, Dakota and Deklen before... And, Evan, Dakota and Deklen after... Elias before... Elias after... More videos of your students will be up in the coming weeks... And, Just For Fun...A wonderful speech given by Third Grade's Carson at PNA's annual auction this year... |
Jessica GrahamMs. Graham graduated from the University of Alabama with a BS in Early Childhood/Elementary Education, and is currently working on her master's in reading. She enjoys hiking, traveling, arts & crafts, and playing the ukulele. Archives
April 2021
Categories |