Celebrating Each Saturday with Ruth Ayres at Discover Play Build. It's a good time to welcome Saturday! Come join us! Tweet at #CelebrateLu
I'm leaving with my class next Tuesday for a ten day trip to Washington D.C. & then the Chesapeake Bay area. Sorry to those of you who've read the news before! Any week before a big trip is huge, with so much to wrap up, so much to settle, and so on. Here are the highlights:
Students love to create machines out of discards. This time they had to be less intricate because there were only 2 weeks to work. The assignment was to use a ping-pong ball as part of the kinetic energy in order to accomplish one simple task. Everyone shared their work Monday afternoon. Here's one picture.
The class continued to work on individual unit goals, but Wednesday and Friday mornings gave presentations about one topic that gave some enticing information about one thing we would see/visit on our trip. They had already turned in magazine-type articles about the topics, but this time they were to present a little about the topic to get us excited. They did a wonderful job, and for some, it isn't easy being the presenter. Some nerves were evident!
Friday was May Day, and I have one student who is studying the politics as well as the traditions of that day. She gave a marvelous presentation yesterday, and taught the rest of the class how to do a Maypole dance-fun, fun! Here's what it looks like at the beginning.
We prepped new field journals to capture our experiences. Daily morning greetings, notes and sketches during the day, and evening reflections are expected. We talked & practiced in old journals both inside and outside, noticed good ideas for arrangement as we displayed the pages, hopefully will be ready to do lots of wonderful journaling next week!
Another happy thing was Poem In Your Pocket day when students had previously chosen a staff member and found or wrote a poem to present with an artistic pocket. They were delivered on Thursday, and much appreciated!
This is the first day in 31 days that I haven't posted a poem. Feels strange! But I do celebrate all the poetry written in April, a huge treat!
Of course Ingrid came home with me yesterday like always, a lovely end to such a busy week!
Have a terrific weekend, everyone!
Linda, I want to hear more and see more about the field journals!! They sound amazing!! Keeping my fingers crossed and hoping we can meet during your trip. Enjoy this amazing experience!!!
ReplyDeleteI hope we can get together too-will try hard, Michelle. I'll be in touch later about the journals. Thanks for asking!
DeleteThe kind of teaching and learning you and your students do at your school continue to hold me in awe, Linda. Have a wonderful trip!
ReplyDeleteJennifer
Thanks Jennifer. We are certainly busy, especially this week.
DeleteYour school sounds sooooo amazing! Every kid should have experiences like you are providing for your students! Have a great trip! And get lots of sleep this weekend!
ReplyDeleteI hope I can grab a nap sometime! I still wake up at the usual early hour unfortunately. Thanks, Carol.
DeleteLook at that cool invention! Much anticipation over your trip. I will miss reading your posts, but know you will be busy learning and gathering more posts.
ReplyDeleteThanks Margaret, you're so right. We will be filled up with so much information.
DeleteI love the idea of using a ping pong ball to do a task. What a perfect way to invite possibility. Have a wonderful trip!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Julieanne, it's a fun exercise in building with 'stuff'.
DeleteMaypole dance is festive and joyful. How wonderful that a student shared it with others.
ReplyDeleteYes, it was a wonderful presentation and fun!
DeleteYour Maypole picture reminds me of a maypole we had at my elementary school. There were chains like the crepe paper and we would swing around holding on to a bar. It was so much fun!!! They eventually took it out because it wasn't safe! I can't wait to hear about your trip! So many fun things to celebrate!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Leigh Anne. At one elementary a long time ago there was a swing like that with chains. I agree, so much fun. I wish we didn't have to worry about safety so much!
DeleteThat May Pole made me smile - and you had a beautiful day for the festivities! Here's to great weather in DC - have fun!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Tara, it looks like the weather is going to be good-cross your fingers!
DeleteOh, I forgot to include Poem in Your Pocket Day in my post. It's such a fun way to connect with others. I love the sharing and celebration of poetry there.
ReplyDeleteI know, much fun in all different ways. Thanks, Crystal!
DeleteLinda, remembering your wonderful April haikus brings smiles to my face but hearing about your students' amazing projects is equally fascinating. Their projects are complex and varied. I can't wait to hear about your filled field journals so I can pass on the information to the teachers I work with.
ReplyDeleteI'll be sure to share with you, Carol. Thank you!
DeleteYOU and your school are amazing! I marvel at all the wonderful, creative and innovative teaching.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Anita.
DeleteEnjoy your trip!!! Sounds amazing!!
ReplyDeleteThanks very much, Kellee. Leaving in the morning!
DeleteThe students' energy & creativity is inspiring. I love the Maypole Dance picture & the fact that a student looked into the May Day origins so deeply.
ReplyDeleteWelcome back from your fabulous field trip as I'm guessing you will be seeing this on the flip-flop.
The kinectic projects looks lively!
And how do you think there is no poem here?
"So much
with ping pong balls
some nerves were evident
feels strange!
a huge treat!"
That is a record to applaud, so many days having written your poems Linda.
Your students are fortunate, indeed.
Sorry I missed you last week, I will have to show my students your May pole picture. I tried explaining it on May Day -- we actually did those dances when I was in elementary school : ) How fun for students to investigate themselves. I want to hear more about those types of investigations, Linda. I hope you are having a great trip!
ReplyDelete