Ms. O'Donnell's 3rd graders finally got to print this week! We reviewed directions and patterns, and I showed them how we should print with our stamps to get a good print and keep our stamppads clean. Students started with one color/one stamp, then traded stamppads for the next color, and again till all 4 stamps had been used. They did an excellent job following directions.
After stamping, we tried to calculate the value of our pictures by adding up all the quarters, dimes, nickels, and pennies. This was a bigger feat than I realized it would be, as the paper size we used meant lots of stamps/coins! Ms. O'Donnell found some counters we could use to cover up letters as they were counted, and the kids transposed their coin amounts into their sketchbooks. We'll finish adding up the entire value another day. It probably would have been better to use smaller paper, or build up to counting that large a number. I keep forgetting that beginning of the year levels and end of the year levels are NOT the same!! I think the students rose to the challenge pretty well, though, and it certainly practised their counting skills!
In Ms. Albert's 5th grade we began by thinking about sun energy, and then did our brainstorm in groups. This method of group brainstorm with each kid using a different color marker was an idea I got from Ms. Albert last year! I described this activity in a previous post, and both classes proceeded similarly. I think the brainstorm helped to develop ideas, but we need more visuals. So next time I hope to have a new presentation with image inspirations for our sunprint stencils.
The 2nd grade classes completed their balance unit by assembling their group sculptures. I'm thankful that we had plenty of grown-up help, as it was a somewhat difficult task. They DID remember our vocabulary word- FULCRUM, and as a group had lots of review about how to balance as we tried to balance out our sculpture. I want to go back and hotglue the connection points, though, as I'm not totally confident yet that they are secure. I also need to get a picture of the final product- it looks pretty cool with all the bright colors and different textures. I hope the teachers forgive me for leaving it in the classroom in its slightly raw state. Your flexibility and generosity are SO appreciated!
After school we had our monthly meeting. Hopefully everybody got a little more familiar with the blog. I love seeing your additions and feedback. We started thinking about the next projects to come, and some groups are switching from math to science and vice versa. We have plans to last us into November, but will start planning more concretely over the next month for December. Our next monthly meeting will be Monday, Nov 28th. It was decided not to have afternoon classes on Halloween.
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