Experiment in Working Without a Target

Sooo...I told the students we were going to do something different. I told them to hold a paper plate on their head so they couldn't see it. I told them shapes to draw with specific color crayons, but I didn't tell them what the outcome should be when we finished. When they finished I asked them if it looked like a jack-o-lantern. Of course, it didn't look anything like a jack-o-lantern. Then we discussed why. 1. They didn't know what we were working toward. 2. Without knowing the goal, they couldn't make a plan. and 3. I took their tools (sight) away from them. THEN we did it a second time: 1. They knew our target was to make a jack-o-lantern with geometric shapes. 2. They could plan how it would look. and 3. I let them use their eyes and a pattern block template for shapes. Quite a difference in the results. NOW that's something we can make connections with in the future.

Solid Writing is a Gas

It was the perfect way to end the week. The journal writing assignment was an effort to determine what they had learned about matter while providing a writing platform. They need only to choose one thing to provide as an example of matter, identify its state, and offer proof. As I read the students work, I could sense the spreading of the warm fuzzy feeling. The one pictured says, "A puddle is a liquid because it can stretch out until it can't any more. Steam is water vapor (language of a scientist we discussed) because it can fill the whole entire room." On the back it continued..."A mug is a solid because it can not change its shape. Matter is real cool." Another student wrote,"A brick is a solid because it won't break unless something does something to it." I found out that "Milk is a liquid that comes from cows." and "An ice cube is a solid because it is hard and won't change its shape." If this wasn't enough, I could also sense their pride in thinking like scientist. Woohoo!

Apples All Around

So we have done a lot with apples lately. We explored last week by making observations, weighing, measuring, and tasting. Monday, we compared our observations about apples and fresh, chunky applesauce. Wednesday, we tasted apples in their liquid form as apple cider. Today, we read a mini-book called "Apples All Around" in two of our small reading groups. The strategy was supposed to be "using picture clues" to figure out unknown words. Well, you have to be flexible when working with young people. They kept reading it as "Apples are"...here and there page after page. Page after page I reminded them to read the words that were on the page. Then a light-bulb comes on in my head. They are, unknowingly, using the "Does it sound right?" strategy. It didn't sound right because it was phrases instead of sentences. They wanted to hear it as sentences. So what do you think we did? Of course, we added the word "are" appropriately to each page and reread the book. It made me smile. Awesome day!

A Spectacular Day for Learning Science

We had so much fun. We first collaborated with classmates to identify the 3 states of matter, the characteristics that define them, and examples of each. Then we made Jello. We discovered that Jello disappears in water, but in the language of scientists it really "dissolves". And in the language of scientists, steam is called "water vapor". We predicted that the Jello would change from a liquid to a solid if we chilled it. We were correct. Then we had to use Mama's rule to split our pieces of Jello with our partners. One child cut, the partner picked their piece, and nobody argued. Math and science are so much fun.

It was such a nice brain workout going outside to practice counting backward from 30. We used our outside voices to help us practice. Not often is an outside voice a "good" thing. It was Friday afternoon.

August Already?!

It is hard to believe that it is August already. I have done a lot of reading. How about you? I have worked in my flowerbeds and played in the pool, too. What have you been up to this summer? In addition to these fun summer activities, I have tried my hand at being a carpenter, electrician, inventor, seamstress, and a writer. Have you tried anything NEW on your vacation? Well, for the next 3 Mondays, I get to play student because I have classes to take in preparation for this school year. I am looking forward to meeting you. Enjoy the rest of the summer and don't forget to enjoy some good books.

Back on Line

We're back on-line. I like the technology as an option to stay in contact with my students and their families. Please follow the blog and feel free to post your comments. I look forward to hearing what you have to say. Let's start with your plans for summer. I'm going to do some reading, some gardening, and some playing in the pool.