RES Family Science Fair--Save the Date!

The RES Enrichment Program is excited to announce the annual

    FAMILY SCIENCE FAIR  !COMING SOON!

Thursday March 16^th, 2017  

We look forward to the excellent projects presented by students in grades K-4!  Please mark your calendars and start thinking about how you would like to participate.

Do you have a science fair project in mind?  Here are some ways to make a plan:

•   Expand upon an interesting topic you have studied in class
•  Think about a topic that interests you, or a science question that you are curious about
• Talk to family and friends to brainstorm ideas for a project
•  Stop by the enrichment room and borrow a fair idea book and talk with Mrs. Rankin
• Check out science project resources in the library  (Did you know that your family can check out additional books from the library beyond your weekly two? See Mrs. Redford if you would like to take advantage of this!)

The RES Science Fair is a non-judged family event.  Students are encouraged to work together with family and friends to develop a project they are proud of presenting to our community.  Your entry does not have to be a science experiment. It may be as simple as a display of your leaf collection or as complex as an experiment on how the circulatory system works.  Look at the world around you. What are you curious about? What interests you?  Ask why something is the way it is. Do experiments, demonstrate a scientific principle, make observations of the world around you, or collect and analyze data. 

                            

Most importantly- be creative and HAVE FUN!

In a few weeks Science Fair entry forms will be sent home.  At that time you will be asked to share your planned science fair topic as well as any special display requirements you have. 

Questions? Contact: Darcie Rankin, Enrichment Teacher by email at darcie.rankin@cesuvt.org

Our Place in this World

Third graders have spent the beginning of the school year in enrichment thinking about their place in this world. Geography and understanding sense of place is an important part of the third grade curriculum.  This study also supports our enrichment goals of continuing to learn about ourselves while giving us a context for our passions and interests.  I love beginning the year with this project because it gives students a chance to be creative and work in groups as we learn.

Students selected a place, and then worked in groups to show this place.  Next the class used an iPad to film and create an iMovie.  Below are the finished results!  Students celebrate our place in his world and we hope you will enjoy their creations.

 

Minecraft as a Learning Tool for Geography

I was approached by the third grade teaching team to consider possible ways that the Minecraft game application might be used to enhance and enrich learning and technology use for students.  I love when teachers are working to engage students with tools they know the students are passionate about...and Minecraft is definitely one of those current high engagement tools, so I was excited to collaborate on this idea.  We decided that it would make sense to try a pilot project in which a small group of students would extend their learning about geographical biomes by creating them in Minecraft.

With a teaching goal in mind, we next had to consider:  software availability, student knowledge and ability to use the technology, and any project guidelines.  Currently RES does not have a school or class Minecraft license, so this project was done on personal and library iPads with a tablet Minecraft version.  Before the project began I gauged student knowledge through a small group discussion.  Students ranged from feeling they were experts, to only a basic understanding of the application.  Due to the small group nature of our project we were able to team students together so that experts could support novice players (I believe this would work in a whole class as well). Next, we explored the application.  I quickly learned that guidelines needed to be developed to ensure that students could stay focused on the task at hand.  (It does not make sense to create a group of sheep in your biome if you are creating a jungle....despite how fun it is to watch them run around and bleet!)'

When students understood the tool useage expectations, they got right to work! I could clearly see their informational knowledge as they designed, built and created!  Students had to problem solve how to create animals, stop ice from melting, and more.  They also collaborated on how to add labels (most settled on capturing a screenshot of their biome and them editing it in Explain Everything, but then others found a way to make signs inside of Minecraft!) 

This project was a way to share already understood information.  Students could have certainly drawn a picture or written a description of their understanding...but I believe the Minecraft tool added three additional components to their learning:  a need to collaborate and learn from each other, high (very high!) engagement, and problem solving.  My opinion is that technology tools are an amazing avenue for students to develop creativity and Minecraft has a lot of potential as we look at methods for sharing our work and knowledge. As a group of teachers we will continue to look for ways to leverage this tool in our work with students.

Below are two images created during our small group pilot.

Do you use Minecraft at home or in your classroom?   What do you think is the best way to enhance learning with this tool?

Andes Manta Visits RES Third Graders

Today third graders had the amazing opportunity to make musical instruments with the musical group Andes Manta.  Students visited the Flynn for a performance this morning. Students and chaperones got to experience quite a show. 

At the Flynn Ready for the show

Here is an example of a similar performance of one amazing part of the show, when the Lopez brothers create a rainforest:


We were very lucky to not only see this great performance, but to welcome Andes Manta to our school to create payas, an Andean musical instrument.  Each student created their very own paya and participated in small group discussions with the artists.  Students talked about music, creating instruments, Ecuador (culture and geography) as they worked alongside great musicians!

This work connected to students study of South America in Spanish classes as well as their third grade geography unit (biomes, landforms, and culture!).

This great opportunity was made possible by the Flynn Education Department, collaboration between enrichment, Spanish and third grade teachers AND a very generous donation from Cumbancha (http://www.cumbancha.com/). Thanks to everyone who supported this effort to bring an enriching experience to our school!

Our Place in this World is AWESOME!

"We all have a place in this world and this is ours!" cried third grade students in the final wrap up of their geography projects today.  For several weeks during enrichment class, students have been working in small groups to think about their geographical place in this world. From our town, to state, to country, to continent and planet....we have a place in this world! Students chose to depict their place in various ways. I was amazed at their creativity and ability to work together to design something that would reflect their understanding of place. Their work is shown in these videos and is also on display outside of the enrichment room.

Please enjoy these videos created using iMovie with the excellent pictures and recordings made by our third grade classes.

Mrs. Ankerson's Class

Ms. Darby's Class

Mrs. Ayer's Class

Thanks for watching! We would love to hear from you in the comments!

Traveling with Tori: Challenge 2

Students in grade 3 have received their next clue from our traveling friend, Tori.

Check out her note, and check back here soon to see if students solved the clues! I also look forwad to hearing what questions students have!  

Do you know where she is?

Hello Grade 3 Enrichment!

I hope all is well with you guys! I thought I would send over the next challenge that I made from my trip last weekend! Sorry this one took me a little bit to make. I am ready to answer questions for you guys as well! Can't wait to hear from you all soon! 

From,

Tori

I am the capitol city

Of a country that’s pretty.

The colors of my flag,

are green white and orange.

There is a holiday from my country

Where mostly green is worn.

I am home to the River Liffey

But my weather is sometimes very iffey.

My people have lots of luck to spare,

Not to mention there are four leaf clovers everywhere!

What and where am I? 

Where in the World is Tori?

Part of our third grade enrichment curriculum is  focused on geography and developing global awareness and connections.  We are excited that a cousin of a student in one of our classes is currently traveling and studying in Europe.  While she is there, she will be providing us with mystery location challenges.  These challenges will be a chance for us to connect with a member of our extended community, AND learn some awesome geographic skills!  Tomorrow we will have our first challenge---finding her home base for our journey together--Cardiff University in Wales!  I wonder if students will be able to quickly identify it on a map! I wonder what questions they will have for Tori about her location!  Check back often to learn about Tori's adventures and our class connection to a world traveler!

 

Here is the introduction that we will share in third grade this week as our first challenge!!!

 

Hi Mrs. Rankin’s Class!

My name is Tori and I am Tess’ cousin!!

 

 I am very excited to be talking with you guys about my adventures around the U.K. and Europe. While I am traveling abroad I will be studying at Cardiff University in Wales and traveling to a few other countries as well. When I am not in Wales I live in New York State but go to Champlain College in Burlington, Vermont! I can’t wait to share my travels with you all! Feel free to ask me any questions that you have and I will do my best to find out the answers!

Talk to you soon,

Tori