Elementary Highlights: Second Quarter
Elementary Highlights: Second Quarter
Opening Library "Walls" to Support Students Anytime and Anywhere:
Opening Library "Walls" to Support Students Anytime and Anywhere:
Pinchbeck expanded their library walls in January for Heritage Night. Students prepared for the evening by completing research using print and online resources to create informational displays to represent many different countries. The YMCA also did a book giveaway for students. The library had our "Maybe Something Beautiful" collaborative art mural on display. Brooke Adams, the school librarian, also had a mobile checkout station where students could select a multi-cultural book.
Pinchbeck expanded their library walls in January for Heritage Night. Students prepared for the evening by completing research using print and online resources to create informational displays to represent many different countries. The YMCA also did a book giveaway for students. The library had our "Maybe Something Beautiful" collaborative art mural on display. Brooke Adams, the school librarian, also had a mobile checkout station where students could select a multi-cultural book.
Community-Supported Lessons:
Community-Supported Lessons:
Fifth graders in Mrs. Butler’s class at Ruby Carver Elementary have been working on an in-depth and ongoing study of natural disasters. Students were given the choice of a natural disaster they were interested in and began with research. Mr. John Bernier, WRIC-TV Chief Meteorologist, visited and spoke with students about weather systems and the climate and regions behind different weather episodes. After researching “their” natural disaster, the intent was to truly give a human impact side to these events. To help with that, Mr. Jonathan McNamara, Communications Director of American Red Cross, visited and spoke with the students about his experiences in responding to these disasters and helping people (and sometimes animals) in need. He empowered the students by charging them to be ambassadors in getting the word out to the community about how to be safe and plan ahead of these weather events. Students have been inspired to collaborate with each other to come up with a way to communicate this important learning . . . whether it be a PSA, model, poster, etc. Mr. McNamara has been instrumental in sustaining their inquiry and guiding them in this process. He will also be providing feedback and will continue to help them along the way in their projects! Phenomenal!
Fifth graders in Mrs. Butler’s class at Ruby Carver Elementary have been working on an in-depth and ongoing study of natural disasters. Students were given the choice of a natural disaster they were interested in and began with research. Mr. John Bernier, WRIC-TV Chief Meteorologist, visited and spoke with students about weather systems and the climate and regions behind different weather episodes. After researching “their” natural disaster, the intent was to truly give a human impact side to these events. To help with that, Mr. Jonathan McNamara, Communications Director of American Red Cross, visited and spoke with the students about his experiences in responding to these disasters and helping people (and sometimes animals) in need. He empowered the students by charging them to be ambassadors in getting the word out to the community about how to be safe and plan ahead of these weather events. Students have been inspired to collaborate with each other to come up with a way to communicate this important learning . . . whether it be a PSA, model, poster, etc. Mr. McNamara has been instrumental in sustaining their inquiry and guiding them in this process. He will also be providing feedback and will continue to help them along the way in their projects! Phenomenal!
Student-Owned Learning in the Library:
Student-Owned Learning in the Library:
Fourth grade students at Lakeside Elementary School completed a Project Based Learning lesson about the Jamestown settlers. The end product was the creation of a product or tool to sell to the settlers to help more of them survive in the New World. Students developed and researched answers to questions about why the Jamestown settlers did not survive and then collaborated to plan and build a product that they could present to the settlers through posters, commercials, and webpage designs.
Fourth grade students at Lakeside Elementary School completed a Project Based Learning lesson about the Jamestown settlers. The end product was the creation of a product or tool to sell to the settlers to help more of them survive in the New World. Students developed and researched answers to questions about why the Jamestown settlers did not survive and then collaborated to plan and build a product that they could present to the settlers through posters, commercials, and webpage designs.
Authentic and Connected Learning Opportunities:
Authentic and Connected Learning Opportunities:
Jami Engel, school librarian, at Donahoe Elementary School collaborated with second grade classrooms to create an authentic and connected learning experience embedded with research. Each classroom decorated their rooms to reflect the specific habitat they were studying. In the library, they did research lessons using databases to create a fact that became an essential element of their chosen habitat. This took learning in the library OUT of the physical space and created connections to what students were learning about in their own classrooms.
Jami Engel, school librarian, at Donahoe Elementary School collaborated with second grade classrooms to create an authentic and connected learning experience embedded with research. Each classroom decorated their rooms to reflect the specific habitat they were studying. In the library, they did research lessons using databases to create a fact that became an essential element of their chosen habitat. This took learning in the library OUT of the physical space and created connections to what students were learning about in their own classrooms.