Learners demonstrate their learning through performance-based assessments and have opportunities to develop self-assessment and self-monitoring skills.

Crater creation with Kinder

The moon is always a source of curiosity for young children. We started out the week discussing basic facts about the moon. We learned about moon phases and did an activity to demonstrate the various phases. Then we discussed the origin of moon craters. We discussed that the moon craters are different sized. They are usually shaped like circles with the middle sunken in and the edges high. We asked questions of the children. We asked them why the moon would be hit by more meteors than earth. (The moon has no atmosphere to protect it, while the earth does.) We showed many pictures of craters of the moon so the children could develop a feel for how many there are. We then created a model of a cratered moon using playdough and a rock. 

Podcasting is such a powerful tool for learning and capturing student voice. We feel it is vital to tap into that with our students in as many ways as possible. Students are introduced to podcasting at the beginning of the year and are encouraged to use that platform to demonstrate their understanding of the content they learn throughout the school year.  

NPR sponsors a Student Podcast Challenge each year. Each year our kids are given the opportunity to create and submit a Student Podcast for this contest. Submissions must be completely student designed and created, must be on a topic of interest that the students choose, and must be no longer than 5 minutes. To help the students fine tune their entries, the kids create a 2-5 minute sample to perform in front of a live audience of peers and receive real-time feedback to help them modify and improve their work. 

Hotdog Mummification

In order to preserve their bodies for the afterlife, the ancient Egyptians went through the process of mummification. In order to understand how and why it worked students mummified hot dogs. Ancient Egyptians would have used Natron to dry out bodies and organs. Since Natron is not available, students used baking soda which is chemically similar.

The students first take data over the hot dog. They use a scale to determine mass, a ruler to determine length, and then also make observations on texture and smell.Hot dogs are placed in a ziplock bag with approximately a cup of baking soda. Students built sarcophagi to hold their hot dog mummies. They were built using popsicle sticks and hot glue guns. When completed, students drew hieroglyphics, images of ancient Egyptian gods/goddesses, and decorated the tombs in ways the Egyptians would have. The mummies were then boxed and data will be taken at various points throughout the year to measure the change in the hot dogs.

FINALLY, In 8th Grade the kids open up their mummified hotdogs are see how they have fared over the past 2 years. It is a yearly tradition that the kids are VERY EXCITED ABOUT!