The kindergarten classes have started learning more about nursery rhymes. Each day they visit the library they hear several rhymes that are alike in some way. After they hear the rhymes read aloud, our friends have the opportunity to guess what they all have in common. Day/night, food/cooking, and animals are categories of nursery rhymes we have explored so far, and we have even more to learn about after the break.
After our kindergarten freinds determine what all of the nursery rhymes they've heard that day have in common, they can take part in various tinker time activties that are related to that theme. They can choose to take an iPad and explore the app, Mother Goose on the Loose, or they can try the different theme activities which have included:
- Animal themed activities:
- making spiders out of small cups, googly eyes, pipe cleaners, and construction paper
- adding yarn "fur" and packaging peanut "fleece" to pictures of kittens, dogs, and sheep
- Day/night themed activities:
- experimenting with moon, sun, and star shaped shadow puppets and a light source
- manipulating transluscent shapes and stones on our light box
- chalk drawing a night sky on black, blue, or purple construction paper
- Food/Cooking themed activites:
- making pretend pies with a small aluminum pie pan, model magic, and makeshift rolling pins
- constructing marshmallow and spaghetti noodle sturctures
Our 1st and 2nd grade classes have turned their attentions to reading the Show-Me Reader Award nominees. In addition to any nominated books that the 1st and 2nd grade classroom teachers may have shared with their friends, we have read several of the selections aloud in the library. Everyone has really enjoyed the books we have shared.
After they have read the nominated books, Mrs. Czaiki has the classes play a fun quiz game based on the Show-Me Award nominated books using the Kahoot website. Using Kahoot really makes it a fun and engaging experience for all of our friends. The game show style format, music and graphics leaves everyone eager to play, and keeps them fully engaged. Each student uses their own iPad from the makerspace to login into the quiz using a unique game pin. Once they enter their player name, it "magically" appears up on the large interactive screen at the front of the class. As each question is read aloud, a timer begins to count down, and our friends tap the answer they think is correct. A score is almost immediately calculated based on their choice and response time. The top several scores are revealed after each question. Once all ten of the questions are read, the winning score is posted on the large screen. Each class has had some very close scores, and there is quite a celebration when the game ends!
When the Kahoot quiz is finished, they are able to vote on their favorite of all the Show-Me Reader books. When all of the 1st and 2nd grade classes have had a chance to vote, we will tally them up to choose Sappington's overall winner. Our school's choice will be submitted to the state committee, and one book will be honored with the prize of being Missouri's 2014-2015 Show-Me Reader Award winner!
The 3rd-5th grade classes have FINALLY made it to the highly anticipated Lego Robotics unit. They have spent the last several weeks introducing themselves to the Lego WeDo kits, and by now have built at least 2-3 different WeDo projects. This introduction will give them the building and promgramming foundation they will need to use the Lego WeDo STEM expansion kits, as well as the Lego Mindstorms when we return to school after Spring Break.
They have discovered that building and programming the Lego robots can be a bit tricky, and it's important to take notice of the small details in the creating of both. If a piece is just one stud off, or the program has one command block out of order the robot may not operate as expected or at all. Often times, the building and programming is a trial and error process. They have really grown accustomed to the idea that often times creating someting new and exciting takes a lot of time, patience, and hard work. Even more exciting is the concept that sometimes our mistakes give way to an even better idea than what we originally imagined, and that is what tinker time in our makerspace is all about!
Additionally, today marked the day that the 4th and 5th graders who read at least 4 of the 12 Mark Twain Award nominees could vote on their favorite of these books. They were invited to the library during their recess to vote. During that time, they were also able to enjoy a cookie, AND choose a brand new book as their reward for being a super reader!
We hope everyone has a safe, fun, and relaxing Spring Break!
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