Next Week is the Hour of Code!

Next week, all RHES students will be joining others around the world in the Hour of Code. This is an opportunity for students to spend some time learning computer science through coding. 2^nd-6^th grade students will use the website www.code.org to play games that teach them computer programming. Some will use the Disney Frozen game and angles to have the characters ice skate; others will use blocks to help an Angry Bird get through a maze; others will help a monster get to a piece of candy on tynker.com; some will try the new Minecraft or Star Wars themed coding games. Grades K-1 will be using an iPad app called The Foos to help a girl get treats. 

Feel free to visit the website (www.code.org) at home or download the free app (The Foos) for your student(s) and practice coding some more- the US needs more students interested in and following the path of computer science!

One of my rescheduled 5th grade classes did their Hour of Code this week (12-4-15). They really enjoyed it! It started as a lot of quiet independence and morphed into a lot of discussion and collaboration...

 

Big 6 Research

5th and 6th grade students are deep into a Big 6 research project. They were given the task to create a book recommendation list for a classmate based on a reading interest survey. So far, we have done

#1 Task Definition- Create a book recommendation list of at least 10 books for an assigned partner
#2 Information Seeking Strategies- We can use books, websites, or interview each other
#3 Location & Access- We have found that goodreads.com, Amazon & Barnes/Noble recommendation lists, c-t-l.org, and Destiny are the best resources
#4 Use of Information- Right now, we are in the research stage where we are taking notes and organizing information

#5 Synthesis- In the next few weeks, we are going to organize our information to give to our partners
#6 Evaluation- Using a rubric, we will be able to self- assess our research process & product

Over 65 Makers at our last November Meeting!

This week we had the last Makerspace of November (and the busiest!!). In December I asked for donations of puzzle pieces, craft sticks, beads, gems, and paint to make ornaments. I am not sure about the paint but we will see if we can create without the mess! Send me any ornament ideas at coopmti@masd.k12.wi.us!

Which ornament will you make? https://www.pinterest.com/tiggertif4/makerspace/ 

62 Makers! And we Received a Grant!

This week, we had 62 students come to the Makerspace on Friday! We also learned that we got a grant from the Mukwonago Education Foundation to purchase more supplies for activities! We thank them for their support of our creativity! We will be working together (students and I) to decide what needs we have. This month, our duct tape pens are going well but we could use more duct tape and scissors. Next month we will be making ornaments using craft sticks, puzzle pieces, beads, paint, and more. Students always have the option to choose to do their own projects as well.

Duct tape pens..

 A lot of playdoh this week...

 Creations...

 Craft stick projects inspired by our Folk Fair...

 More duct tape pens...

 Lego building (we would love more of these!)...

 More duct tape pens...

 Sharing supplies...

 Look at those happy, creative smiles!

Vocabulary Superheroes!

This week, we will be celebrating the Principal's Reading Challenge on Friday! We are doing a superhero theme and Mrs. Blochowiak will be reading in the library at all recesses. Students are able to bring books to join her to help develop SUPER READER skills! This week's library lessons have been about what super readers do. The second graders used this great organizer from teacherspayteachers (a freebie!) to become Vocabulary Superheroes.

Working in partners...

 Learning new words based on Fancy Nancy books (they are perfect for vocab!)...

 Write the word, draw a picture, write the meaning, use it in a sentence...

 Brainstorm: to talk over ideas...

 Fascinating: the fancy word for interesting...

 We love learning new words!

44 students at the Makerspace with duct tape pens!

This week, we watched a tutorial on making duct tape pens. Some students participated while others chose to do choice projects. Those who did participate are going to bring back their pens next week (and maybe for a few weeks) to finish!

Duct tape pens...

 Choice projects...

 Duct tape bookmarks...

Play-Doh :)

 Duct tape pens in 5th grade!

Have a great weekend!

Project READ- Chicka Chicka Boom BOOM!

This was our first Project READ of the year! It is for younger siblings and stands for Read, Eat, Activity, and Dress up. Our theme was Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, so we wore letters on our clothes! We read and listened to the story and then did 3 activities: coloring page, painting our hands to make a tree with coconuts spelling our name, and a magnet dog game. The dogs had magnets attached to their noses so they had to pick up a magnet letter and then color it on a coloring page. The students (and parents) loved it! And the kids got to take home a stuffed dog at the end. Then we made a snack with graham cracker trunks, green apple leaves, and chocolate chip coconuts to make the Chicka tree.  Gotta love Pinterest :)

Coloring page...

 The dog picking up magnet letters...

 More dog/letter fun....

 Painting our hands to make a tree with our name...

 Mrs. Coopman's final project (the kids did better!)....

Hope to see everyone December 22nd for Little Critter! Wear brown!