Students in the middle grades this year are exploring how the United States went from mainly states on the east coast to spreading across the continent. We started off this unit with a look at maps. We discussed the 13 Colonies victory against England and what that meant for the young nation. We then started Read More >>
Little House Read Aloud
The younger and middle group of students have listened to the book Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder. While listening to the book, we made a chart of interesting words and the main characters that we heard about. We also got a chance to make butter, visit the pioneer museum at Read More >>
Writing Prompts/Writing Skills
This fall, a group of 3rd and 4th graders were assigned to two writing classes during journal time. Writing Prompts was designed to help these reluctant writers develop creative ideas and to get their ideas on paper. At our school children have a half hour of writing each day, during which time they can Read More >>
Water Cycle
In our science class with students in grades 3 and 4, we studied the water cycle. This unit focuses on how water exists in our world and how it transforms from phase to phase.We explored how water exists in nature as a solid, a liquid and a gas. In this unit we have read two books Read More >>
Bats
Our second through fourth graders have recently wrapped up a science unit on bats. In this unit we studied unique qualities and characteristics of specific bat species, compared bats to birds, learned about echolocation, and contributed to bat conservation. Some of our activities allowed students to create replica bat species using exact measurements and physical Read More >>
Bugsocopters 2018
Students in grades 3 and 4 enjoyed a unit on variables. To help them learn that in order to test a single characteristic in a design, you can only change one variable. Bugsocopters, fun paper twirling designs, came to the rescue. First the students were given a standard Bugsocopter to experiment with. They had to Read More >>
Measurement 2018
Students in grades 2, 3 and 4 were part of a three week measurement unit where we explored length, weight, temperature and volume. In each lesson students used tools to explore the huge world of measurement. After studying a thermometer and the two scales of measurement (Fahrenheit and Centigrade) students measured the temperature of some Read More >>
Geometry
This math class focused of recognizing specific polygons. We started out learning that the number of sides and vertices a polygon has is what determines the polygon’s name. We also went over what congruent and symmetrical were and examples were shown as visual aids. Then we talked about parallel lines, parallel lines never cross so we Read More >>
13 Colonies Update
After looking at maps and realizing how many people were already here in the “new world” each student was assigned a tribe to read about, do research on and report about their customs, homes, food and more. Students were also given picture of Native Americans in different situations and used VTS (visual thinking strategy) to figure Read More >>
All About Books
This unit was started by our student teacher this past fall. After she left, we slowly have been finishing up what she started. Each student picked a topic that they knew “all about” and started writing about that topic. Topics include, cheetahs, NASA, The Fastest Things, Video Games, Tae Kwon Do and more. Using Read More >>