Spheres of Earth Island Challenge

My classes have been learning about the spheres of the Earth. To make this fun, I had each group create a deserted island.


They had to list all the plants, animals, soil type, water, weather, etc. they would have on their island. I reminded them that they would need to have more than one plant and one animals. I told them if I created an island and said I had pine trees and polar bears I wouldn't have a good change of survival. Here is a screen shot of the padlet before they started drawing fate cards.

 After the islands were created they jumped in their boat to take a break. While out in the boat a storm came up and they were stranded on the deserted island they created.

 

So they created their island and added all the information to their group's Padlet. Then each day they drew a fate card. The fate cards can be positive or negative. It has been fun watching them come up with solutions to problems they encounter. Some wouldn't work in real life but I can see some misconceptions that we can study soon. 

 

Some of the groups were able to find their background a take a picture in front of our green screen to make it look lik they were really on their own island. 

Here are a couple of screen shots from the group Padlets. We are almost finished with this simulation but this is one I'll do again for sure!

Week 27- BYOT- Using LOTS of technology in class

I started the week in a BYOT workshop (bring your own technology). I learned several new things and had reminders of a few things I used in the past. So Wednesday I decided to test them out on both of my classes. Each of my classes watched the same video. I knew this would be perfect to go with Habit 6- Synergize. 

For my homeroom, I stopped the video as we watched and had them answer questions and share at their table. Then I posed the final question on Padlet. Each group used an iPad to access the padlet I created and post their group answer. 

I loved seeing all my students put their heads together to synergize and answer the questions about the video we were watching.

I decided to try something a little different with my 2nd class. I created a room on Today's Meet for our discussion.I created a QR code for them to access the chat room.

 As we watched the video I posted the question in the chat room and then paused the video. After the first time they knew to look at the chat room when the video paused. Then each table had a discussion about the question and one person in the group posted the answer. 

I'm pretty sure Backchanneling with Today's Meet was my favorite! I can see how this would be great to use during lessons. My students could post questions they have and I could address them on the spot. Students who might be reluctant to ask questions in class would be more willing to post them in our group room. 

I have a few more tech things we used in class this week too! I created a blendspace for my students that focus on the geometry lessons in math. I posted the link to this in my Edmodo classes so my students can access all the videos and other things we did in math class this week. 

Since I was out Monday at the workshop I created a ThingLink for my sub to use. This had all the videos and notes she needed for my science classes to cover physical and chemical properties. I've also made a thinglink for the Declaration of Independence and Acids/Bases.



As you can probably tell, I'm loving all this technology and I can't wait for us to get more network support to start the BYOT movement in our school.

Friday we had our fun run at school. My kids ran around 35 laps or more. I was exhausted just watching them.

And our class team name for the fun run? Here's what the students voted for using AnswerGarden.

I let the kids make suggestions using the iPads with a QR code.

They scanned the code to go to the AnswerGarden I created for this. Then we took the top 2 names and did a poll on Edmodo. White's Walking Dead was the winning name.

Here is our video newsletter for the upcoming week.



STUDENTS: We used a lot of technology this week. How did using technology prove you are synergizing? What was your favorite part of using technology?

Week 16- Fractions & RAKs

I have so much to share about this week! We started learning about Holidays Around the World this week in social studies. Check out the file on TpT. It is a close read format and my students had fun learning about traditions in different countries.



We started learning about fractions this week and had several fun activities. We started with a living number line. I gave each student a fraction card and they placed themselves on the number line in the correct order.





On Thursday, during our small group rotations, I taught the kids how to play a game called From Here to There Fractions.





We used fraction cards that my former math coach, Haley James, gave me last year. The kids loved using these cards and couldn't believe I had playing cards with fractions on them.



Here is a picture of one of the game boards.



Want to know how to play? Watch this Gami that Haley and Avery made to explain the game.



I also had to do the chocolate bar activity with fractions. I love any excuse for chocolate.





We answered questions about fractions using the chocolate bar pieces.



Want to see the powerpoint I made for this? It is free on TpT: Chocolate Fractions 

And have I mentioned lately how much I love using Padlet with my students? This week we took pictures of our pages in the interactive notebook and I added them to the fractions padlet. That way students could go back and access it from home in case they forgot their notebook at school. It is also a good resource that shows the different ways I teach fractions. I like to show my students several different ways to do things and let them pick what works best for them.

Created with Padlet

My mom stopped by school this week and brought us a beautiful wreath for the classroom door. I love it!



Mrs. Reasner and I have been doing Random Acts of Kindness (RAKs) with our students during the school day. I gave my students a choice board and challenged them to do all of the items on the board this week. Find the choice board idea I found here. We also created a Motivation Wall in the teacher work room. I have seen several of these on Pinterest and knew we had to do this for the teachers. This is what we did. We also left other post it notes so that teachers can add some of their favorite motivational quotes to the wall. We didn't add a bunch because we wanted to leave room for others but I have a list of quotes I plan to add it no one else takes advantage of this.



To go along with the Random Acts of Kindness we started using the Christmas Kindness Countdown. It gives a different RAK each day for the students to do. This week we picked up trash, smiled at everyone, and made cards for our principal. I also showed them this RAK video and we talked about doing nice things for people and not expecting things in return. I think this is a great life lesson and I've seen my students doing nice things for others all week.


We also chose names for the Secret Santa RAK. Each student drew a classmate's name (I added my name too). We will do nice things for that student and reveal ourselves before the Christmas break. I also plan to have them make a picture of their RAK person and list things they have done for them. I found the idea on Pinterest (here it is). 

Mrs. Reasner shared the idea of writing positive notes for the teachers in each grade level so of course I was on board. We have been randomly selecting a grade level and writing a positive note on a post it note for the teachers. Then we go and stick them on their doors. I hope we have brightened some days this week with our little notes of love.

STUDENTS: We started doing RAKs this week. I loved seeing everyone doing nice things for each other. Has this carried over into your life at home? Have you done a RAK for someone at home or has someone done something for you? Share what was done. I'd love to hear about it.

Week 12- Keep It or Junk It & Math SCOOT w/QR codes

This week I tried a new classroom activity and I think my students enjoyed it. I feel like they understood the material a little better than usual after doing Keep It or Junk It.

I divided the class into groups to read a section in the text and create a list of words that would help them answer the focus question. Our focus question for this lesson was: "What is erosion and what are the ways in which it happens?"



The students decided if they would read together and make their own personal list or if they would read alone while making the list. Once they developed their own list their group had to work to develop a group list of words that would answer the focus question. They voted by showing numbers with their fingers- 1 keep it, 2 junk it, or 3 cloud it. If they put it in the cloud they had to come back to the word when they finished and make a decision.



Then each group shared their list with the class as a whole. Then the entire class voted on words to add to the class list for keep it or junk it.



Both of the science classes developed a list. In the end they used the list of words to write a paragraph to answer the focus question for the lesson.









Here are just a few pictures of the notebook pages that each individual made. You can see on the first list the ones crossed out were the ones that group decided to junk.





We also used the iPads during this activity. I had the students add information to the wall about weathering. For this wall, They were able to share what they thought weathering was, we added the list of words, and some definitions. I thought this would be a great summary of information and a great way for students to revisit what we did when they need to study. I posted a link for this wall on our Edmodo page for the students. Both classes contributed to this wall. If you don't know about Padlet you have to check it out!

Created with Padlet

At the end of the week I asked a small group to create a Gami about keep it or junk it. I let them decide what to say and how to do the gami. Austin created this one along with the help of his group members. I love the way he took a picture of our classroom so it looks like his character is talking in our class! Great job guys!



Check out my previous post with the posters for Keep It or Junk It.

This week our math coach, Mrs. Hamlet came to do an activity with my math classes.



She had decimal math task cards and the kids played a scoot game to answer each card. Then she had a QR code sheet the students used to check their answers.





We had enough iPads so that each group was able to share to check their answers.



STUDENTS: How do you feel about keep it or junk it? I felt like you guys were able to defend your choice of words so well. Do you think you understand more about weathering and erosion because of this? Would you like to try it again?