Don't Be S-s-scared!

Here's a speaker for the real reptile lover . . . Scott Wessel.

Students discover the truth about snakes. The speaker addressed life science standards on animal life cycles, behaviors, habitats, and adaptation. Students learned how a snake grows, how it interacts with its environment through its senses, how its habitat provides for its basic needs, and how its physical features and behaviors help it adapt to its environment. 

 The audience participation and response to this speaker were outstanding.

Water Days

Students celebrated Water Days at Northeast's Lifelong Learning Center. Students wrestled with the content, a raft of skills, and some pretty compelling experiments. It was fabulous! Water Days consists of four 30-minute classroom sessions featuring hands-on learning. Natural Resources District is the festival sponsor. 

One core session that is always among the students’ favorites is the water rocket launch. Water rockets are used to help students understand the principles of aeronautics. Two-Liter Pop Bottle Rockets may well be the greatest physical science teaching tool ever created! Middle grade students can manipulate and control variables and see their hypotheses verified or refuted.

In the “Edible Aquifer” session, students constructed model aquifers with cereal, ice cream, and pop. This activity was a fun and easy way to understand the geology of an aquifer.  

And there’s the icky “Garbage-ology” activity that has students sort through garbage and make garbage pizza discs. “Kids tend to like this trash talk,” Mrs. Miller, Keep Norfolk Beautiful, said with a laugh. “It’s very educational and a fun way to show kids what a landfill is.” Play My Garbology at home to learn how to reduce the amount you and your family throw away each and every day.

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Students participated in a Jeopardy game which proved the Water Days festival greatly improved participants’ water knowledge. Any session that gets children moving is popular and provides an opportunity to incorporate education. After all, education is the NRD's mission.

A big thanks to the middle school science teachers who organized and registered students for this field trip.

National Grammar Day

How does one honor the spirit of National Grammar Day?   

The official website puts it this way:

“Language is something to celebrate, and March 4 is the perfect day to do it.

It’s not only a date, it’s an imperative: March forth on March fourth to speak well, write well, and help others do the same!”

How did Room 100 celebrate National Grammar Day? 

Grammar Guy welcomed students at the door.

We then brought out the chromebooks and played  -

Like a “Playstation for education”, Kahoot is a game-based educational platform.  Kahoot ensures 100% engagement by turning the classroom into a gameshow. Students love it! Teachers love the review! 

Grammar Guy was a big hit when he arrived with prizes!

Happy National Grammar Day!  

  

Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss!

Today we celebrated Read Across America in Room 100 because "you're never too old, too wacky, too wild, to pick up a book and read with a child."  ~Dr. Seuss. 

Students have studied narrative theme all year. They have learned that the literature they read conveys a message, lesson, or overall idea that the author feels is important. Some were surprised to discover that young children’s stories also impart important themes and lessons. The Dr. Seuss books are particularly good examples of this. Students became excited and enthusiastic about reading when they were presented with the opportunity to participate in Seuss's Readers Theater. 

And since every theme party needs a snack, students munched on Seussical treats.

One of the best things about Dr. Seuss is being able to identify with all his fantastical characters. Our Seusical tree featured many of these "friends." 

The characters learn about friendship and forgiveness and even redemption – students of all ages can relate to these themes. 

Happy Birthday, Theodor Seuss Geisel.