The Tallest Tower

One of the projects that the class has participated in during the past couple of weeks introduced them to the Engineering Design Process.  They learned that engineers go through this process to design solutions to problems using math and science. 

First, we learned the six steps that engineers go through as they solve complex problems.  Step one required students to identify  their problem (to build the tallest tower).  Next, they were given the criteria and constraints.  Each team was given 25 index cards.  They could bend and/or fold the cards, but could not use tape or any other material to build their tower.  They brainstormed possible solutions and then selected an approach.  After they built their tower, they evaluated and redesigned their model.

This activity covered several Performance Indicators under Science Standard 5:  Engineering.  It also covered Transferable Skill 4:  Working Independently and Collaboratively. Below are some photos from the activity.

March 15, 2019

     We have been busily working on our ancestry projects this week.  Students are getting excited to see these projects coming together.  I have had several students ask to stay in during the recess block to work on their projects.  If they haven’t already done the following, they should try to have these completed by early next week:

·      

•       Interview – This could be parents, grandparents or other relatives

• ·        Photo of an artifact or the actual artifact (Ask your child about this              assignment.)

• ·        Photo for their Author page

• ·        Photos that connect to the person they are studying

• ·        Extra credit for a family recipe and photo of them making it

These projects will be on display during our Celebration of Learning on April 4^th.  Natalie Kinsey Warnock, who led the ancestry project, will be joining the 4^th/5^th grade classes that evening. 

This week’s Friday folder will have a sheet for signing up for the student led conferences.  Please fill out the form and return it next week.  Student led conferences provide an opportunity for children to reflect upon their growth and learning.  They take an active role by showing work samples and reflections in the various academic areas.

In technology class and our writing block we have been working on creating a nonfiction booklet using “Book Creator.”  This is a simple tool to create ebooks.   Most students are finishing up on this project.  These also will be shared during the Celebration of Learning and Student Led Conferences.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Natalie – Day Three

On the third day, Natalie taught the students about the history of photography.  First, she showed us many different types of cameras.  Next, we learned about the kinds of photos created by each camera.  Finally, students were given packets of photos and asked to sort these in order, from the oldest to newest.

Natalie Kinsey-Warnock

Natalie - Day Two

Our second day with Natalie was on Wed., Jan 23^rd.  We began on this day learning about primary and secondary sources and were shown examples of each.  We learned about a variety of artifacts.  Natalie brought in family recipes, her grandmother’s apron, many photos, a war ration book, and a diary.  Natalie also told a story about a plane crash that happened on her family property when she was a child.  She had several pieces from this crash as another example of an artifact.

Later in the day we learned all about census records.  Natalie read a great book, Tricking the Tallyman by Jacqueline Davies.  This trickster tale takes place in Tunbridge, VT during 1790, the year of the first U.S. census.  After, she taught us how to search census records online for information on our ancestors.  Students learned that the latest census we can look for is 1940 because census records are not released for 72 years after the information is gathered.

A war ration book

A piece of the plane!

Family photo

Natalie Kinsey-Warnock

Day One

We have had five days of the six day residency with Vermont author and historian Natalie Kinsey-Warnock.  She began on the first day sharing that most of her books are based on family stories.  Throughout the past month and a half we have been reading several of these stories,  including her first book about the Canada geese quilt that Natalie designed and made with her grandmother.  Natalie talked about how many times she revises her stories (up to 40 times) before sending them off to the publisher.  It then can take up to another 5 years before the book is published and on the bookstore shelf.  Currently, she has over 60 books that are “works in progress.”  Natalie also shared a slideshow that showed children about her life.  Slides included many of the animals she has rescued, including 2 horses, 10 dogs, and many cats.

During the afternoon,  students began learning the meanings of many words that will be used during this residency.  Ancestors, descendants, genealogy, siblings, paternal, and maternal were some of these words.  Natalie taught students how to determine relationships such as cousins once removed, twice removed, and more.  We learned about how some names have changed over time and that many of the last names came from occupations (i.e. Cooper is an English occupational name for a maker of barrels and other wooden vessels.)  Students also were given a family tree to begin filling out and were told about the research project that they will be working on.  This project will be one of the things shared at the Celebration of Learning.  Below are a few pictures of the quilts that Natalie designed and her grandmother made.  Natalie told us that her grandmother did not start making quilts until she was 65.  These quilts were all made by hand and she completed a total of 250 quilts.

Starburst with over 1,000 points

Canada geese quilt