Harbins Elementary 

What are we currently doing in FOCUS?

1st grade:  First graders are extending their learning of Benjamin Franklin and working on their reading fluency by performing a Reader's Theater.  Then we will be learning about research and presentation skills through a passion project.  

First grade students will also be able to distinguish between rocks, minerals, gems, and fossils and identify some common examples. 

2nd grade:  Second graders are working on their reading fluency and performance skills through a "fractured fairy-tale" play.  Then we will become royal builders of castles through a STEAM castle project.  

Second grade students will also understand the concept of length and weight, and how to measure using non-standard and standard units.

3rd grade:   Third graders are wrapping up their divergent thinking by learning about Rube Goldberg, the master of divergent thinking, and simple machines.  We will use his influence to design and build our own machines that are laboriously contrived to complete a very simple task.  

Students are researching a desired destination or place of interest (city, country, island, region, range) and creating a map, google presentation, or brochure about this place while becoming an expert on the topic.  Students will take the class on a tour of their place and identify at least 7 points of interest. 

4th grade:  Fourth grade students are problem solving through a series of robotics challenges that will push us into a productive struggle with coding.  Students are also studying bridge structures and are being tasked with creating a truss style toothpick bridge that will support suspended weight.  

5th grade:  Fifth grade students are unleashing their inner Bard by studying, memorizing, and performing a Shakespeare play.  Students will also use ethos, pathos, and logos-the modes of persuasion to support an argument in a debate style setting while supporting and defending his/her own opinions while respecting the opinions of others. 

Fifth graders are also engaged in a project called Dear Data this rotation. The activity provides students an opportunity to go through the data cycle process focusing on a statistical investigative question based on something they would like to learn more about themselves. As students go through the data cycle, they formulate a question that can be answered with data, collect the data over a period of time and spend time analyzing the actual data they collect. As they interpret their own data, they will create a unique illustration to communicate their findings to others.  

😀  Activity Sites You Can Use!  (for yourself or your kids!)  😀