News Features
Mrs. Russell's Friends
December 2024
How can I be inspired by the stories of others?
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1ST GRADE
How can my dreams develop into something bigger than myself?
Unit 2 - Dream Big - Exploration
Students will develop perseverance and gain inspiration after learning the story of an Italian immigrant who left his legacy in The Watts Towers, a national landmark. They read, Dream Something Big. Students will face several challenges in this unit including dreaming about the creation of a very unique playground. Their playground model includes a fun house, police station, horse stable, treehouse, toy shop, waterslide, animal rides, a tire climb, a petting zoo, a merry-go-round, giant inflatable animal floats, and of course, a lost-and-found station!
Our Dream Playground
Statue of Simon Rodia
Creator of the Watts Towers
This past 1st grader was inspired to actually visit the national landmark on her summer vacation!
2ND GRADE
How can following the engineering process help me productively solve problems?
Unit 2 - Garbage Cars - Engineering
Students will learn to think like mechanical and automotive engineers while following the engineering design process. Inspiration was first derived from the story, If I Built A Car. Students will work collaboratively to design a "garbage" car from recycled products, but not before overcoming several constraints and the added challenge of keeping an egg (the passenger) from cracking as the car travels down a 30-degree ramp.
Selecting Materials - Planning Phase of the Engineering Process
Design/Create Phase of the Engineering Process
3RD GRADE
How can we solve and use puzzles to find the solution to a greater mystery?
Unit 2 - Detective Work - Critical Thinking
Students are using critical thinking skills to work through the pages of the book, The Eleventh Hour. In the book, Horace the Elephant holds a party for his eleventh birthday, to which he invites his ten best friends (various animals) to play eleven games and share in a feast that he has prepared. However, at the time they are to eat—11:00—they are startled to find that someone has already eaten all the food. Who is the culprit?
Detective Work: Collecting Clues
Deductive Reasoning Activity
4TH GRADE
How can my ideas develop into entrepreneurship?
Unit 2 - Entrepreneur Study - Collaboration
Students are considering the possibility an idea they have could become a future opportunity. They are reading the book, From an Idea to Lego, which tells the story of Ole Kirk Christiansen and how he started the biggest toy company in the world! Along the way, students are completing Lego instant challenges, competing in a Battle of the Book game, and exploring how Lego bricks can help with understanding math concepts like fractions and multiplication.
Leading a Reading Group
Lego Instant Challenge
5TH GRADE
How can my gifts and talents help me change the world?
Unit 2 - Affordable and Clean Energy Study - Innovation
Students have researched energy production with a focus on wind energy and its growing industry around the world, but especially in Texas. Next, they will be presented with a small engineering challenge to design a wind turbine prototype that can efficiently lift a load. Along the way, they have gathered some inspiration from building a few models and reading the story, The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind.
Research: How is energy produced and accessed around the world?
Energy Discussion &
Windmill/Turbine Construction
Congratulations to our uil participants and winners!
Congratulations to our uil participants and winners!
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR SPELLING BEE CLASSROOM WINNERS & CAMPUS COMPETITORS!
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR SPELLING BEE CLASSROOM WINNERS & CAMPUS COMPETITORS!
I LOVE SEEING YOU ALL TAKE THE LEAD IN THESE ACADEMIC COMPETITIONS!
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