Take some time to peruse your favorite spooky stories. This weekend, please collect your favorite spooky tale and be prepared to share it in class. You may choose your favorite book, story, campfire tale, song or poem. It can be a true story that happened to you or a family member. You may print the story or bring the book. I'd like to see the spooky tale in writing. We will be using your favorite stories next week in our literature lessons as we begin to decipher the elements of good story telling.
Please remember to choose school-appropriate content (no blood, gore or violence). We will begin our dissection of these tales on Tuesday.
Have fun. Sorry about the nightmares...
Friday, October 3, 2014
This Weekend, the Science Fair and an Apology
I have to apologize to the students and families of fourth grade today. I realize that the pacing of the Science Fair Outline is moving too fast. In an attempt to coordinate with four other teachers, I tried to adhere to the school outline that was distributed on Wednesday. It is my intention to coordinate the resources of the science teacher, the computer science teacher and the LRC teacher along with my own in an effort to provide an immersive experience for the fourth graders as they complete their science fair project. It was my mistake to commit the class to such a fast-paced schedule. I did manually change a couple of dates on the schedule, but I should have changed more. From now on, we will tap the brakes and reset the timeline. We will still complete all of the activities on the outline. However, we will complete them in a manner more responsive to the fourth grade needs. I will send a revised schedule on Monday. I am sorry for any confusion. It is important to get started on the right track. This project should be an enjoyable educational journey and we will treat it as such.
After conferencing with the class, I have discovered that you have some terrific ideas. Some of us are very close to finalizing our ideas, while others are rethinking our proposals and still others have no idea about what they want to do. Don't worry, we have time. We'll have to revise the due dates on our project outline to adjust for our varying pace. Please come Monday with a general idea about your experiment or design project. We'll work together from there.
Take some time to think about your science fair topic. We'll spend the morning on Monday discussing your best ideas. Don't worry, it's not too late to change your mind. If you find something cooler over the weekend we can adjust. The point is to find something that you are really interested in, something that engages your brain and inspires you to work your best.
Mrs. Biggs will begin a lesson on evaluating resources and appropriately citing your research with APA format on Monday. If you don't have a project finalized, you can use this time to familiarize yourself with APA format, resource evaluation techniques and CPS's great selection of digital resources for science. Mrs. Bigg's will guide you through it.
Have a nice weekend.
After conferencing with the class, I have discovered that you have some terrific ideas. Some of us are very close to finalizing our ideas, while others are rethinking our proposals and still others have no idea about what they want to do. Don't worry, we have time. We'll have to revise the due dates on our project outline to adjust for our varying pace. Please come Monday with a general idea about your experiment or design project. We'll work together from there.
Take some time to think about your science fair topic. We'll spend the morning on Monday discussing your best ideas. Don't worry, it's not too late to change your mind. If you find something cooler over the weekend we can adjust. The point is to find something that you are really interested in, something that engages your brain and inspires you to work your best.
Mrs. Biggs will begin a lesson on evaluating resources and appropriately citing your research with APA format on Monday. If you don't have a project finalized, you can use this time to familiarize yourself with APA format, resource evaluation techniques and CPS's great selection of digital resources for science. Mrs. Bigg's will guide you through it.
Have a nice weekend.
Thursday, October 2, 2014
One Scary Tweet: Horror Stories in 150 Characters or Less
It does take much to make a good scary story. You can design short stories to evoke fear in only 150 characters or less. With the creative use of imagery and inference, you can tactfully lead your reader to a fright or a giggle with minimal wording. Good writing can prey upon old beliefs and prior knowledge. You can use this information to formulate two sentence horror stories that tell just enough (and leave just enough out) to complete your objective.
Here is One Scary Tweet:
Here is One Scary Tweet:
Track-a-Thon Tee Shirt Entries Due Tomorrow
Amelia's Fabulous Entry. Please be sure to turn yours in tomorrow.
The Fear is Coming... Fear Fest is Underway.
Fear Fest is an immersive literacy project that melds reading, writing, technology, performance, collaboration and other talents into one goal: TO SCARE THE PANTS OFF OF SOMEONE!
We will be studying scary stories. We will read, discuss and dissect them in attempt to extrapolate what it takes to emit fear. Through this project we gain an understanding of the six traits of great writing. We will use these traits and our knowledge of famous frightful tales when we ultimately create our own fear-evoking stories. We will then produce these stories as performances designed to scare the pants off of an unsuspecting audience. Dates and times to be determined. Stay tuned... IF YOU DARE!
Wednesday, October 1, 2014
The Laser Printer Has Arrived
Thanks for bending over backwards to support our Digital Imaging Center. The laser printer has arrived and is already operational. This laser printer allows us to print documents wirelessly. We had not had the ability to print color previously. Also, this laser printer allows us to print 3,500 color copies before we need to replace the toner. It is economical, fast and allows us to display our colorful personalities on a daily basis. Thank you Donors!
Science Buddies
Here is a helpful site to guide you through the science fair process. There are ideas for science fair projects and some helpful "how to's" to guide you through the process.
Science Buddies
Science Buddies
Kelvin Doe and the Engineering Design Process
Kelvin Doe is a young man from Sierra Leone in Africa. Kelvin is an amazing figure not only for his prodigious engineering talents, but for his inspiring ideas about social justice. Kelvin focused his tremendous skill and ingenuity to create a voice for young people in the desolate lands of Sierra Leone. He developed a low-powered FM radio station from bits he found in the garbage. This is the engineering/design process at its best. After watching this video, aren't you inspired to change the world with your own idea?
The Science Fair: Experimental Versus Design Process
Today in science we introduced the idea of the Science Fair. The exciting thing about this year is that students get to choose between taking a problem through the "experimental process", as we have traditionally done, or they may choose to solve a problem using the "design process". This exciting new option will allow students to focus their skills to design something that solves a real world problem. Creating a design project effectively aligns student project work with the requirements of the new STEM initiative ( Science, Technology, Engineering and Math). Here is a link to a document that explains the difference between the experimental project and the design project.
A Comparison of the Scientific Method and the Design Process
Students can design an experimental project from the scientific categories listed here:
CPS Science Categories
Students can also choose to create a design project to address a real world need. The need can be global, local or personal. The design can range from simple to complex. It can be an invention like a new backpack design to an app for tracking homework. I encourage students to choose an idea that they are thoroughly interested in. They will be working with these topics for multiple weeks. So, being vested in the idea is imperative. Coming home today is the outline for the ERGC fair along with due dates.
We will break down the science fair into manageable bits. Mrs. Biggs, Ms. Doyle, Mr. Vernola and I will try our best to facilitate these projects. Obviously, much support from home will be required. However, students will be given time in class. The science lab, computer lab, LRC and classroom and their associated resources will be made available to any student who needs it. We will try to guide students through every step of the process. Much more information will follow. Any updates or digital resources will be promptly posted to Portkey 217. Mr Vernola also has a terrific website that can be used to easily find science fair tips and requirements.
Mr. Vernola's Website
A Comparison of the Scientific Method and the Design Process
Students can design an experimental project from the scientific categories listed here:
CPS Science Categories
Students can also choose to create a design project to address a real world need. The need can be global, local or personal. The design can range from simple to complex. It can be an invention like a new backpack design to an app for tracking homework. I encourage students to choose an idea that they are thoroughly interested in. They will be working with these topics for multiple weeks. So, being vested in the idea is imperative. Coming home today is the outline for the ERGC fair along with due dates.
We will break down the science fair into manageable bits. Mrs. Biggs, Ms. Doyle, Mr. Vernola and I will try our best to facilitate these projects. Obviously, much support from home will be required. However, students will be given time in class. The science lab, computer lab, LRC and classroom and their associated resources will be made available to any student who needs it. We will try to guide students through every step of the process. Much more information will follow. Any updates or digital resources will be promptly posted to Portkey 217. Mr Vernola also has a terrific website that can be used to easily find science fair tips and requirements.
Mr. Vernola's Website
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