We often set up a Mystery Skype/Mystery Google Hangout with classes around the world. This is where we play a geography based guessing game asking yes or no questions only. 10 days ago we were lucky enough to connect with our friends in NEW ZEALAND! We were able to guess them first but more importantly, had question/answer time where we learned a lot about their country, seasons, school, etc. They even performed a skit for us based off a rugby team there.....they sang us a song...and we sang them our National Anthem. Everyone learned something that day!
We have really been focusing on using specific details in our writing. I had all three 6th grade classes print of a nature picture and describe it as best as they could. We talked about using measurement words, specific color words, comparing, etc. Then they traded descriptions with someone and had to draw their picture based ONLY off the descriptions given. Some students were very frustrated and we talked about how that can happen when the author doesn't give complete details. Some students described very well and the pictures definitely "matched up" better than others.
Genius HOUR! This is my 3rd "season" of running Genius Hour in my classroom. I absolutely love it! We do it every Monday morning, and then students are required to keep a running journal via our Kidblog LINK on Tuesday mornings. Just recently, students ran a bake sale [for teachers only since they were home baked goods] and raised money to donate to the Nebraska Humane Society. One parent even matched the girls' donations! When they were there, they were able to get a behind-the-scenes tour of the Humane Society in addition to donating to this wonderful cause. I am so proud to see what each of the students come up with for their projects. They are SO excited and many students have told me how they never look forward to Mondays, but this year they are the BEST!
STEM challenges. I have been eager to do more of these each and every year and just made sure THIS year that I started the year with one. So far, we have done the Marshmallow Challenge [students get a set of rules, so many pieces of dried spaghetti, tape, string, etc to create the tallest free-standing structure with a marshmallow at the top of the structure], Saving Sam Challenge [use a gummy worm, gummy life saver, cup, and two paper clips-students are only allowed to touch the paper clips...must get the life saver under the cup onto our worm Sam that is atop the cup], and the Broken Squares Challenge [team members must trade and match up pieces to form 5 equal squares-no talking, no motioning, and only allowed to give their own pieces away and wait for partners to give THEM the correct piece they need]. All of these have been amazing TEAM BUILDING activities that require critical thinking, teamwork, collaboration, patience, etc. Thanks to Michelle Boyce, Stephanie Toelle, and Terri Brown for these ideas!
I submitted an application to present a poster/playground session at NETA this Spring. I have a Wizard of Oz themed idea of presenting about coding with drones/Ollies/Spheros etc and HOW to apply these activities into a classroom setting. I hope to bring students in my class to show off their "expertise" with the different types of devices and be able to talk about the different challenges and projects they have done. A LOT of things going on this year but it has been great so far and I look forward to the many things to come! Follow me on Twitter @esalie13 or feel free to comment if you have any ideas/comments/questions!
