2011 Global Snowman Card Exchange

UPDATE!  We Get to Participate in Two Groups!  (Remind me of how excited I was when we get closer to December 9th and I start to panic...)

I am very excited to share information with you on our newest project.  All five rotations of students are going to work together to participate in a global card exchange between 59 classes from across the United States and Canada.   Over 750 classrooms have registered and been organized in groups of 30 for this project.  This collaboration was organized by a teacher in California named Jennifer Wagner.  She has successfully encouraged teachers since 1999 to use online projects in their Pre K-6 classrooms.  This is the first time I have participated in one of her projects and I am very excited about having an opportunity to connect our students to others from across our country and around the world.  

Through this real world platform, we will be working on our research, problems solving, writing and technology skills.  We are responsible for making one, snowman themed, card for each of the fifty-eight other classrooms.  Below is a Google Map I made in Batch Geo to show the locations of all of our partners.

View 2011 Global Snowman Holiday Card Exchange in a full screen map

Our 2nd grade SAGE students are learning to use a traditional USA and World Atlas and coordinates on a grid this week so the skills tied nicely to this new adventure.  We will be working with Google Maps and Google Earth to learn more about the locations of each school. 

Both K/1st and 2nd grade SAGE students will be introduced to using a Thesaurus in the next week or so.  We will use the synonyms we find to help us write winter swirl poems  for the cards.  The cards we create must be mailed by December 9th.  Once we receive all of the cards from the other schools, we will be graphing some of the information we learn about the other students, schools and locations.  I am hoping we can Skype with one or two of our partners so the students have a chance to connect face-to-face.  We will have to see! 

A Little Outrage Can Be Good for the Learning Process

The boys and girls were enthusiastic learners today! In the computer lab, the students are beginning to apply and synthesize their skills with Microsoft Power Point.  Today, they used basic figures (shapes) and began to create a winter snowman scene. By formatting their figures for color, size and position, they were able to design the background for their picture.  The students learned to format the outer line on a figure for style, thickness and color.  In most cases, for this task, they needed to remove it completely.  They also learned to "lasso" objects to select several at one time and to group them, so they move as one figure.   

We will be using this scene for our winter swirl poems we are writing over the next few SAGE days. If you have Power Point at home, encourage your child to practice and explore some of its possibilities.  

The students completed their first full page "Squiggle" as a part of our creative problem solving.  As they combine the squiggle marks to create a single, cohesive picture, they learn the necessity of taking their time, being flexible in their thinking and to be elaborative in their projects.

In the afternoon, the students were introduced to using a USA and World Atlas.  We discussed the purpose of the table of contents and index and practiced using them to locate a map for a particular city.  Next, we learned to use coordinates on a grid to locate a point on a map.  It's amazing what you can do without a smart phone!  LOL   Ask your child about the activity.

Today, in Spanish with Senora Gates, we learned about:

1.     Greetings.  Hola, Buenos días. 

2.     Names- Me llamo…¿Cómo te llamas? Mucho gusto.

3.     Colors-rojo, azul, blanco, negro, amarillo, verde, anaranjado, rosado, morado,         gris, azul cielo, café o marrón.  

4.     Numbers 1-20 Los números 1 hasta 20

5.     Calendar –El Calendario
6.     Days and Dates-Días y fechas

Our day ended with more than a little personal outrage.  We hung the students' "Squiggle" designs up on the bulletin board along with a name tag at the base of their illustration-- but we mixed up the names and papers to be sure none of the names matched with he appropriate student work.  It took a little while or them to notice, but when they did, they let me know that an error had been made and they didn't like having someone else's name on their own work.

After leading the conversation in a few circles, I pointed out that I believe this must be how authors, illustrators and photographers feel when someone takes their ideas, designs or photographs and uses them in their projects without giving them proper credit.  "Plagiarism" is an academic vocabulary word for our second grade SAGE students. In the end,I think the students gained an understanding of the importance of citing our sources.

Have a great week!

Hola! Senora Gates has Begun Our Spanish Instruction!

Wow, we had a really busy day!  In the computer lab, the students are learning about using Microsoft Power Point.  Today, we reviewed adding and formatting a text box and rectangle.  The students can now add a new text box and format it for color, size, style of font and location on the page.  After today, they can also insert a rectangle, square, circle and oval.  I also showed them how to access auto shapes.  They can format their figures for color, size and position.  They are able to fill the shape with a single color, gradient colors, a pattern or a picture.  Today we practiced layering objects and how to change the position of an object by using the send forward and backward tools.  If you have Power Point at home, I would encourage you to let your child explore some of its possibilities.  It is a great application for writing a report, making a card or doing a book report.  It is user friendly and very adaptable for inserting photos and video.

In the library, the students learned more about Melvil Dewey and his classification system for non-fiction books.  We looked at how the books are organized, the types of books I would find in each category and exactly how understanding the system can help us locate books in any library in the country.  Back in the classroom, we worked on some ABC order skills on the Smart Board to prepare us for using guide words in the dictionary and Thesaurus as well as in an encyclopedia and atlas index.

The students completed a second tower today--without the extensive brainstorming, preparations and writing.  I gave them 12 minutes just to see how they could improve their designs from last week.  The majority of students were able to double and in some cases triple the size of their towers.  They were relaxed and focus as they worked.  Bravo to them!  Today we had an average height of 46.5 inches and our tallest structure was built by Nathir at just over 63 cm!

In the afternoon, the students worked at their individual Exploratory Centers.  We have dental impressions being made, owl pellet dissections, origami figures being folded, illustrations of the Titanic striking the iceberg, original pattern block designs, a "Johny Jump-Up" puppet under construction, a cheetah model being sculpted and more.  Ask your child about their work.

Today was also our first day of Spanish with Senora Gates!  Each of the students selected an optional Spanish name.  We also learned about:

1.     Greetings.  Hola, Buenos días. 

2.     Names- Me llamo…¿Cómo te llamas? Mucho gusto.

3.     Friends-Amigos- Pablo, Livia, Antonio, Rosa

4.     Colors-rojo, azul, blanco, negro, amarillo, verde, anaranjado, rosado, morado, gris, azul cielo, café o marrón.  Game-Levántense- Siéntense

5.     Numbers 1-20 Los números 1 hasta 20

6.     Calendar –El Calendario

Days and Dates-Días y fechas

 

With the additions of several new students, we are looking like a complete class!  The boys and girls are doing a nice job welcoming new classmates and our new students are settling in to our routine and expectations.  Rotation A is a wonderful class of interesting, funny and friendly students!

Have a great week!

Using Our Creativity to Reach New "Heights"

Hands-On Problem Solving

We started our day working individually on our logical thinking skills with the Logic Links program. The students also continued their individual problem solving work in the Math Rules program.


This week in computer lab, the second graders were introduced to Microsoft Powerpoint. They learned how to open, name and save a new presentation as well as how to add a text box and format it for size, style, color and font. They also learned to draw, color and resize rectangles as well as how to reposition and reorder objects on a page. The tools they learn to use in one program are often very similar to those used for other applications. This allows students to readily adapt to and master use of other applications.


Today, the students completed their first "hands-on" problem solving challenge. Using only one pair scissors, a one inch cube of clay, an 8.5x11 inch sheet of paper, two drinking straws, two folder labels and six popsicle sticks the students had to create the tallest, free standing structure possible. The base of the structure also had to fit within a five inch tape square on their table. They began by brainstorming designs on their planning form and they then were given twelve minutes to actually construct their tower. It is fun to see the room go completely silent as each student's brain is fully engaged in the task. The students used a variety of designs for their towers and, for the most part, were very successful. Our tallest tower, for this first attempt was 51cm.  They ended the task by evaluating their designs, construction and finished structure on their hands-on planning form.

To be successful, students must be fluent, flexible thinkers. They need a steady stream of ideas and they must be able to adapt and change direction or strategy as new problems arise. These tasks develop the skills needed to solve real world problems and provide wonderful opportunities for affective conversations. We discussed how individuals handle frustration and challenge, why some students quit and others persevere and how their classmates that struggle academically might feel on a regular basis. For some it is the "Ah Ha!" moment that enables them to empathize with their peers and avoid hurtful bragging. Having said that, it takes a great deal of maturity and wisdom for an individual to celebrate their academic success in a way that does not make someone else feel less and so, the conversation continues...


Growing up in a culture where athletic, theatrical, musical and artistic "winners" are hailed with attention, applause, trophies and recognition it is only natural that students with academic gifts will initially seek that same response when they achieve a level of success. Although I find it to be hypocritical that is how the world is. I think it is our job as parents, teachers and advocates for bright children to guide them, model an appropriate level of humility and provide them opportunities to celebrate their success and receive genuine praise.


Have a great week!