Beginning Our Wheel Study
1/19/2019
This week marked the beginning of our Wheels study. As we explored this topic, we talked about what we knew about wheels and what we wanted to learn as we investigate wheels. Our study of Wheels will provide a meaningful way for our Explores to further expand their skills in mathematics, literacy, the arts, and technology. This study will also provide an exciting way for us to learn physical science and social studies concepts. One way we investigated wheels this week was by using paint and wheeled vehicles. In our morning meetings the students were very interested in wheels made for different terrain: snow wheels, sand wheels, mud wheels, fast and slow wheels. Using paint allowed us to make tracks, see the different treads.and make hypotheses about what a tire might be made for driving in. As we ran the cars through the paint we talked about what type of tire tracks the cars were making, how the tracks changed with speed and direction, and we compared the patterns of different vehicles' tracks. This week we also searched through magazines to find examples of wheels. This activity not only strengthened our fine motor skills, it also encouraged our pre literacy skills. Sifting through magazines, deciding what information to pay attention to and interpreting what information the images and letters where conveying are all important skills to building strong reading foundations. Making a collage of wheels from magazines caused us ask what makes a wheel a wheel? Our Explorers needed to use independent thinking and research skills as they flipped through pages. Open ended activities that encourage questions give students ownership over what they are studying, As a class we found that wheels are much more than tires on cars. Our collage has bikes, ferris wheels, planes, RVs, wheel chairs, wooden toys, snow machines, and more. Highlights from the Week
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April 2021
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