Writing Novels
11/17/2017
And they’re off! Although students have been planning their novels for weeks, PNA 5th grade students began the most ambitious writing project of their lives. Students are participating in National Novel Writer’s Month (nicknamed NaNoWriMo) and will be tackling the daunting task of writing their own novel in a matter of weeks, a task that most adults would find daunting. Students have been hard at work learning how to plan and develop a good story.
We often look for ways to challenge students at PNA, but what does that mean? Being challenged means breaking down the mental barriers that serve to limit our potential. It means pushing students outside their comfort zones so they can see what they are fully capable of. It means teaching students to embrace healthy challenges rather than fear them. Once students see the magnificent things they can do, then, conceivably, anything is possible! So, challenging students means pushing the limits of what's possible at the risk of failure. As students work through their writing process for the next month, keep in mind that they are writing rough drafts that can have some messy parts. At this point, if you are discussing the novel with your child, try to be at least four times more positive, supportive, and encouraging than critical. Keep in mind that the task they are taking on is exciting but can quickly feel overwhelming without encouragement. Thanks for being their for your kids! Have a great Thanksgiving break! Class at Anchorage Museum
11/10/2017
This week, we had class at the Anchorage Museum. We had three different “classes” while we were there. First, we visited the brand new Alaska exhibit to study real artifacts and look at how cultures have changed in response to exploration and colonization. Exploration will be our next social studies topic. Second, we studied space exploration. Students participated in an interactive space mission and then built their own spacecraft prototypes. Space will be our next science unit. Our third experience was a tour of the Cruisin’ the Fossil Coastline. We saw fossils, large illustrations, life size models, and videos of animals from Alaska’s past. Our current science topic is ecosystems. Enjoy the pics!
Where is that food from?
11/3/2017
Have you ever wondered where a food originated? Or, have you ever wondered what a crop may have looked like prior to domestication? In 5th grade, we've been exploring the origins of common American foods that were originally domesticated by Native American farmers. Students have each picked a crop to research. In the pictures 5th grade class Halloween photo!
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Elizabeth FerryMs. Ferry's experiences include teaching with the Peace Corps in Tanzania, teaching high school English in Maine, and this is her second year at PNA. She loves moose, outdoor activities, and being with her students. Archives
April 2021
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