Small Moments
12/21/2017
In third grade, students are expected to write narratives using effective technique, descriptive details, and clear event sequences. Students learned how to stretch out small moments with intricate details that convey strong feelings turning these small moments into moments that matter. A Level 3 (meets standard) narrative writing includes the following learning goals:
- Establish a situation and introduce a narrator and/or characters; organize an event sequence that unfolds naturally. - Use dialogue and descriptions of actions, thoughts, and feelings to develop experiences and events or show the response of characters to situations. - Use temporal words and phrases to signal event order. - Provide a sense of closure. At PNA, creativity is nurtured and celebrated. Students learn how to integrate technology into the classroom. For this specific activity, third grade writers analyzed which image or text supports their purpose for writing. Integrating technology allows writers to see writing as a creative process. Students were taught the basic functions such as adding text, adding image, editing image, and voice over. Then, they explored on their own, creating videos that go with their narrative.
This writing is not just about writing personal narratives. It is also about growing into the identity of being a writer and about living writerly lives.
Happy Holidays from these 3rd Grade Elves!Keeping It Real
12/16/2017
Authentic learning involves real life tasks that provides students opportunities to connect directly to the real world. In third grade, as students work on their weather project, students are given the following real-world tasks to show them the connection between learning and real-life and to give students the problem solving abilities that they require for life beyond school.
1. Collaborating with other REAL 3rd Graders NGSS standards require 3rd grade students to obtain and combine information to describe climates in different regions of the world. To do this, the third graders Skyped with other classes located in Oklahoma, Rhode Island, and Canada. The video below shows a Mystery Skype, students take turn asking yes/no questions to figure out where the other class' location. It is paramount that students apply their geography skills on this activity. In addition to learning about their climate and how they prepare for severe weather, students also learned appropriate communication skills when talking to other students. They learned how to introduce themselves to other kids, take turns asking and answering questions, and how to end a conversation politely.
2. REAL Bake Sale
While working on their projects, students stumbled into a problem. How are we going to get the items we need for the emergency kits if we don't have money? The students had a meeting with the parents and came up with a solution, a bake sale! Students helped at home baking, they went to every classroom to advertise their bake sale, and they handled the bake sale on their own. They learned about food sanitation, counting real money, and customer service. The Bake Sale was a huge success as they made $130+!
3. REAL Shopping
Students went to Sam's Club to buy non-perishable food they need to add to their project: emergency kits for PNA classrooms. They researched for non-perishable food and then check expiration dates of the food they chose to buy. They learned how to find items at a store, to ask a store representative when they need help, to check out, and to enjoy carrying boxes to the car and back to school. Before they left Sam's Club, they donated $2 to The Salvation Army.
PBL is such a powerful approach to learning as students do tasks that are real to them. Their learning goes beyond the classroom and they get apply the skills in the real world. These third graders don't have to wait until they graduate to show what they learn at PNA. They are already applying them right now so by the time they graduate, they are so used to communicating and solving problems that they are more than ready to take on the big world, without even thinking about it!
3rd Grade's project will be completed soon and will be displayed at PNA's PBL Space from January 15th - 19th.Standing Strong
12/8/2017
U.S. Department of Commerce reported that STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) occupations are increasing at 17% while all other jobs grow at about 9%. STEM is, therefore, our future. At PNA, we aim to prepare students for the real world as independent independent thinkers and exceptional learners. STEM is one way to achieve that goal. But remember, STEM is not a craft, nor it is meant to replace the Science curriculum. It is meant to help students achieve higher order thinking skills and build problem solving skills as they collaborate solving real-life problems.
Their STEM challenge was to build a structure to withstand severe weather. Severe weather often comes with powerful winds and can be very damaging! They needed to build a structure that can stay standing during strong wind and ice storms.
During the activity, students had to apply their content knowledge on weather and at the same time incorporate 21st century skills where they think, design, make mistakes, and even fail. Part of the process is about exploring multiple ideas to see which works best. When time was up, each student presented their structure. A blow dryer and ice cubes (wind and ice storm) were used to test if the structures can withstand severe weather.
Ultimately, in the end, STEM has great benefits that create innovative thinkers, productive team workers, decision makers, and students who have a love for learning!
Special thanks to all 3rd grade parents who participated and for bringing scrumptious food!
Source: http://engineeringforkids.com/article/02-02-2016_importanceofstem
PBL Product: AK Jeopardy
12/1/2017
When third graders were asked what they learned from their Social Studies project, one of the students wrote, "the most important thing I learned is to help people even if they're far away." The student was, then, asked to elaborate his answer, "What do you mean help people?" He explained, "Our project can help teach other kids even if they're far away, even if they live outside Alaska." Wow, the impact of project-based learning is truly meaningful. Third grade has been working hard to answer the question, "What can we, as geographers, add to Alaska's Public Land's kit to teach other classrooms about Alaska regions?" Students chose a region they were going to be an expert on. They researched and read nonfiction books about their region then they created board games that their classmates could play as they teach them about their assigned region. Then, the class decided to create Alaska Jeopardy that contains facts they learned. This became the final product they personally delivered to Alaska Public Lands.
Third grade played AK Jeopardy against the Public Lands staff and it was impressive to see how this project documents their learning. The content knowledge was evident as they answered questions about Alaska.
According to John Larmer, editor-in-chief for BIE's blog, public product makes PBL stand out as different from traditional instruction. When students take their project beyond the classroom and the teacher's desk, the work becomes food for thought in a learning community. AK Jeopardy is a project that will be added to an educational kit Public Lands share with any classroom in the country. Teachers from anywhere in the U.S. can sign this kit out and use it to teach their class about Alaska. The rewarding feeling we get from watching students exhibit their content knowledge and soft skills at an unprecedented level makes it well worth all the effort!
Source:
Larmer, J. December 11, 2015. Gold Standard PBL: Public Product. Retrieved from https://www.bie.org/blog/gold_standard_pbl_public_product |
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
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