Embedded Files
Schedule Days 1-4:
3rd Grade - 11:55 to 12:35
4th Grade - 12:35 to 1:15
5th Grade - 1:15 to 1:55
The 4 Cs Unit
The 4 Cs Unit
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Communication
Communication
In the beginning of the unit the students learned that communication is important in completing tasks. They practiced how to use effective communication by completing a variety of tasks. Students used tangrams and pattern blocks to create a design that was on a piece of paper. They were not allowed to see the design or know what they were making. The students had to have a partner describe the design and give clear directions on how to make the tangram/pattern block design. At one of our stations, a member of their group was blindfolded. This person had to be navigated around the carpet without stepping on any mines (stuffed animals)! The partners used their communication skills to give directions on navigating the mine field.
Collaboration
Collaboration
Now that the kids understand effective communication, they will need to use this important skill to collaborate with others to create a project.The students in 3-5 classrooms worked on designing a superhero avatar. They collaborated as a class to make a plan for the avatar, and as small groups each group created a blueprint of one of the parts for the avatar. During the second cycle of this lesson, the students used up-cycled materials to create the various parts of the avatar.
The last cycle of collaboration, the students in third, fourth, and fifth grade used a Google Chrome extension called Screencastify. This extension allowed the kids to create a video diary entry of their project using the camera. The file was then uploaded to their Google drive, and shared to me via Google Classroom. All of the projects were creative and original pieces of art, not to mention fun toys!
Critical Thinking
Critical Thinking
The students rotate through centers that require them to think critically about the assignment/task. One of these centers has the students pack 4 to 5 items they would need to survive in a remote location (Arctic, a desert, etc). Other stations include tangrams, plexers, hidden messages, building sets, and games.
Creativity
Creativity
Students showcase their creativity in a variety of ways. In our last few cycles of the 4Cs unit, 3rd thru 5th grade classes have to design and build a class avatar out of up-cycled and recyclable materials. Each year our avatars change with our building theme. In 2015 we had teachers re-imagined as super heroes. 2016 was the year of movie characters. This upcoming year will be our underwater theme. I can't wait to see what sea creatures they imagine and create!
Coding & Computer Programming
Coding & Computer Programming
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We're Programming!
We're Programming!
Students continue to develop their computer programming skills in the second unit. Our unplugged activity for the third graders is graph paper programming from code.org. Fourth graders build a Lego maze and must program a figure to get through the maze. Fifth graders design a dice game that requires rules based on the roll of the dice.
They will then rotate through centers each cycle where they get the opportunity to program Sphero and Dash robots, work through a skill set from code.org, design their own game with bloxels, navigate Lightbot, and much more!
At the end of the unit our third graders get to design and code their very own flappy bird game!
We Be Jammin!
We Be Jammin!
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3rd Grade Musical Instruments
3rd Grade Musical Instruments
The third quarter is all about the engineering and design process. Students learn about the principles of sound in order to create their own unique sound from an instrument they design. The classes work through each stage of the engineering and design process to develop an instrument that is created from up-cycled and recyclable materials. Then groups write an instrumental song and together perform it using their pitched and non-pitched instruments. Check out our performances and creations below! We have some very talented musicians playing triangles, drums, guitars, and more!
Film Festival
Film Festival
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4th Grade Movie Making
4th Grade Movie Making
Now that the students understand the engineering and design process from third grade, they must design and produce their own movies for fourth grade. The entire movie is written, developed, directed, and produced by a team of fourth graders. The kids write their own script, build their own props and sets, film the movie in green screen or stop-motion, and edit the movie using iPads. Watch out George Lucas, Steven Speilberg, James Cameron, and all of you famous movie directors/producers! This grade is just starting their roles in movie making, and I can see great things from them already! Don't take my word for it, check them out below.
MAKER-SPACE
MAKER-SPACE
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5th Grade (3rd and 4th quarters)
5th Grade (3rd and 4th quarters)
3rd Grade & 4th Grade (end of the year)
3rd Grade & 4th Grade (end of the year)
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