Mrs.
Baggett's PEP News
For Third Quarter
During the third quarter, the PEPpers
will study Goods and Services. Students follow the steps
taken by a manufactured product as it goes from raw
materials to the store shelf. Students will then work on a
plan to set up a school donut shop. They will have to
decide how to make donuts, how much money they will need to
start, what they will charge, and how to advertise.
PEPpers will also “check out” local competitors such as
Dunkin’ Donuts, Food Lion, and Wal-Mart. After expenditures
are paid, students will then determine if a profit is made.
This unit will also incorporate a study of imports and
exports. Students will be checking their toys and clothing
to see where they were manufactured. Finally, each PEPper
will get a chance at being an entrepreneur. They will
invent a product for the future and create a commercial to
advertise it. Commercials will be taped and viewed to
decide which product will be the most successful. To learn
more about major concepts in the world of finance, visit
http://www.kidsenseonline.com .
Additional reading suggestions are:
Transformed, How Everyday Things Are Made by
Bill Slavin and the From Start to Finish series by
Lerner Books.
Mrs.
Haywood's Third Grade News
For Third Quarter
During the third quarter,
“Puzzles, Problems, and Solutions” are the focus for third
graders in a math and independent research unit. This unit
includes participation in “Athenian Secret”, which is a
simulation of a Greek treasure hunt. Students will travel
through the ancient city of Athens searching for clues to a
secret formula. They will earn Greek drachmas for solving
math puzzles and problems accurately and cooperatively.
Students will also study the works of famous mathematicians
and philosophers. The Greek News by Powell and Steele
and
www.philosophyslam.org are places to learn more about
the people of ancient Athens.
In addition,
students will be introduced to the research process as they
complete an independent research project. They must select
topics, develop research questions, choose appropriate
resources, locate information, and create a poster to
showcase their new-found knowledge. Work will be shared
during formal presentations to their peers. The New York
Public Library’s Kid’s Guide to Research by Deborah
Heiligman and
www.finditva.com are excellent sources to assist third
grade researchers as they begin their investigations.
Mrs. Schwalenberg's Fourth and Fifth Grade News
For Third Quarter
In Mrs.
Schwalenberg’s
classes, students are currently working on the unit “Building
Bridges”. In this unit, students are introduced to the forces
that act upon bridges, different kinds of bridges, and the
shapes and materials used to build bridges. As a way to
demonstrate what has been learned, students build toothpick
bridges, using only toothpicks and glue, to find the most stable
structure. Bridges will be tested at a special “Bridge Breaking
Ceremony”, in which weights are added to the bridges to test the
strength of each one. If you are interested in learning more,
here are some great books to read and web sites to visit:
The Art of Construction –
Mario Salvadori
Bridges: Amazing Structures
to Design, Build, and Test – Carol Johnmann
http://www.howstuffworks.com/bridge.htm
http://www.bridgesite.com/funand.htm
Students are also researching an Independent Study topic of
their own choosing. During this process students find in-depth
information about a topic that interests them, create and answer
higher-level questions relating to the topic, and present their
newfound knowledge to the class at the end of the nine weeks.
Students are responsible for documenting sources, taking notes,
organizing the presentation, and creating a visual aid to help
teach the topic being researched. Wikipedia.com and
AskforKids.com are two great places to find information on most
topics.
Ms.
Beazlie's Fifth Grade News
For Third Quarter
Ms. Beazlie’s Fifth
Grade- Flying Things
December 17, 1903-
Orville and Wilbur Wright have done it. They are the first
in the world to make a “sustained, controlled flight” in a
heavier-than-air powered flying machine-an airplane. During
the third quarter, Ms. Beazlie’s fifth grade students will
explore the history of flight and the impact it has had on
society through the years. To learn more about the Wright
Brothers and their flights into fame, students can read
The Wright Brothers for Kids: How They Invented the Airplane
by Mary Kay Carson. This great resource also includes 21
activities exploring the science and history of flight.
Students can also explore the web site
http://www.neet.nasa.gov/StudentSite/. This site,
managed by NASA, contains interactive games and activities
about the history of flight. Another amazing web site
bursting with information and images is
http://www.first-to-fly.com the Wright Brothers
Aeroplane Company and Museum of Pioneer Aviation. Also,
during the third quarter, students will spend time
researching an independent study topic of their choice. A
culminating project will be created and a presentation will
be made at the end of the quarter on their topics.
Ms. Bockrath's Fifth Grade News
For Third Quarter
Fifth graders have begun a problem-based science
unit In “Problem on the Parkway”, students respond
to a chemical spill. They must gather information
from a variety of sources to determine a plan of
action. In addition, students will participate in
debates about several environmental protection
issues. Virginia Living Museum educators will
conduct a program about environmental hazards in
animals’ habitats. For a variety of links and
resources on conservation please refer to the
following WebPages:
www.epa.gov and
http://ethics.sandiego.edu/Applied/Environment/
Ms. Beazlie's Middle School News
For Third Quarter
6th
and 7th Grade- Art in Chemistry
Does an
artist need to be a chemist? Does a chemist need an
artist? Do they have anything in common? Both
artists and chemists make careful observations.
Then, a chemist forms a hypothesis, tests the
hypothesis and draws a conclusion based on the test
data results. The artist makes interpretations
also, but these usually come directly from
observations. Artists may try many interpretations
until a satisfying piece of work is created. The
chemist needs the artist’s creativity when making
interpretations and the artist needs the chemist to
test and formulate new materials. Thus, the work of
both the artist and chemist are interdependent.
This quarter middle school EXTEND students will
explore this interdependency as they participate in
activities integrating art and chemistry. To
conclude the unit, students will participate in an
art forgery investigation. To investigate this
topic further, students are encouraged to check out
the books The Great Art Scandal and Art
Fraud Detective by Anna Nilsen.
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