Red Fox Clanners culminated their Athens/Sparta project with a performance at Big Circle. We finished filming our final scenes in the days before vacation and each travel show will be posted in short segments on the Red Fox Clan's facebook page soon.
Students continue to enthusiastically share their writing several times a week during Author's Share. Along with recording what they work on each day and sharing their drafting, students are adding weekly editing and collecting of misspelled words to their writing rhythm.
On Friday we were visited by Devin Franklin. Red Fox Clanners shared information from the large amount of Wildlife and Weather data recorded over the 6 weeks of Flying Deer. Devin offered students feedback on their presentations. To better represent their findings, students will formally document hypotheses, procedure, observations in the form of frequency tables, line graphs, bar graphs and pie graphs, and discuss their findings and new questions in a conclusion. We will aim to finish this project by mid December. Students have already voiced their plans to test their hypotheses about the relationship between weather and wildlife behavior next spring.
Empty Bowls was a great success, with students cutting vegetables and creating flags that made up the centerpieces. And that soup was delicious. Thank you all for contributing vegetables and your love to raise money to feed people. Enjoy the holiday!
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Week 10
The main task of the week was the continuation of our Athens/Sparta Travel Show Project. Children split up the scenes they previously created and set to writing scripts. After writing in pairs, students collaborated with the other group members in the revision, editing and practicing of the scripts. Costume and props lists were made and students began memorizing their lines. Filming will start on Monday.
We spent two math sessions looking at the massive amount of data we collected over the 6 weeks of Flying Deer. Students created tables including the number of species seen each day, the number of animals seen each day, the number of animals before rainy days, the number of species seen on rainy days and many other variations. We will graph our data in an effort to learn more about how weather affects animals and specific species. On October 20th we saw 54 animals across 18 species!
The Red Fox Clan hopes to share several scenes from the Athens/Sparta Travel Show Project at next week's Big Circle. We hope you can come!
We spent two math sessions looking at the massive amount of data we collected over the 6 weeks of Flying Deer. Students created tables including the number of species seen each day, the number of animals seen each day, the number of animals before rainy days, the number of species seen on rainy days and many other variations. We will graph our data in an effort to learn more about how weather affects animals and specific species. On October 20th we saw 54 animals across 18 species!
The Red Fox Clan hopes to share several scenes from the Athens/Sparta Travel Show Project at next week's Big Circle. We hope you can come!
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Eight and Nine
Many thanks go to Ellen Plageman for visiting us on the afternoon of Tuesday, the 26th. She brought many kites that she built over the years and told us of the inspirations that led her to start a kite making business. She sold many, many kites to the Smithsonian. We then walked down to Darrow School and flew several kites. Check out the pictures and Mountain Road's facebook page for video highlights.
The Red Foxes began their investigation of Greece by finding out our names without the many letters of the Alphabet that came from Ancient Greece. Students like JSS JCK RRSR and L FR SS loved their new names. We went on to read Homer's story of the Cyclops and Odysseus and dream up our own Olympic events. Students have now turned their attention to Athens and Sparta, comparing and contrasting the two city states with the aid of a Venn Diagram. Red Foxes have begun the process or writing the scripts of a travel show in which they will try to convince travelers to visit and live in their city. We will produce these shows and video tape them for your enjoyment.
Children have enjoyed moving their attention to free writing. They are practicing writing their own stories and have been doing short "author shares" to give the group a taste of their creation. We will begin weaving in peer revising and weekly editing of grammar and conventions. Real life DOL!
The Red Fox Clan has, over the past two weeks at Flying Deer, amazed me with their accomplishments. The children broke up into small groups on the 27th and put up tarps and created fires in the rain with no adult support. This is a challenge for naturalists of all ages. On the 3rd of November Red Fox Clanners built a 1 minute fire! They planned, organized, and then gathered and lit a match in under 60 seconds and then spent 10 minutes building it up into a roaring fire. Again, this accomplishment is most challenging. But they weren't finished. In the afternoon the other clans came to our site to find the hiding Red Foxes. The children hid, camouflaged with just a tiny bit of them showing, for 30 minutes without moving! Their concentration and passion is most commendable.
The Red Foxes began their investigation of Greece by finding out our names without the many letters of the Alphabet that came from Ancient Greece. Students like JSS JCK RRSR and L FR SS loved their new names. We went on to read Homer's story of the Cyclops and Odysseus and dream up our own Olympic events. Students have now turned their attention to Athens and Sparta, comparing and contrasting the two city states with the aid of a Venn Diagram. Red Foxes have begun the process or writing the scripts of a travel show in which they will try to convince travelers to visit and live in their city. We will produce these shows and video tape them for your enjoyment.
Children have enjoyed moving their attention to free writing. They are practicing writing their own stories and have been doing short "author shares" to give the group a taste of their creation. We will begin weaving in peer revising and weekly editing of grammar and conventions. Real life DOL!
The Red Fox Clan has, over the past two weeks at Flying Deer, amazed me with their accomplishments. The children broke up into small groups on the 27th and put up tarps and created fires in the rain with no adult support. This is a challenge for naturalists of all ages. On the 3rd of November Red Fox Clanners built a 1 minute fire! They planned, organized, and then gathered and lit a match in under 60 seconds and then spent 10 minutes building it up into a roaring fire. Again, this accomplishment is most challenging. But they weren't finished. In the afternoon the other clans came to our site to find the hiding Red Foxes. The children hid, camouflaged with just a tiny bit of them showing, for 30 minutes without moving! Their concentration and passion is most commendable.
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Magic Number 7`
We started the week focusing on peer revising for sentence fluency and writing introductions for our kite reports. All completed the finishing touches on their kites, wrote final drafts of their reports, and touched up a few bird study entries all in time for Big Circle on Friday. Red Fox Clanners helped arrange the exhibit hall and chose how to hang/display their kites. Each student did a phenomenal job taking turns reading their reports and nature journal entries. Congratulations to the Red Fox Clan! After a special guest's visit on Tuesday afternoon, we will turn our attention toward Ancient Greece and its contribution to flight.
Students began new topics in math and continue to learn and practice material with efficiency. We spent time as a whole group developing composition and decomposition strategies while completing mental math problems with large numbers.
In the classroom, in the woods, and on the playground I have felt thrilled to see how much compassion and appreciation flows between these children. Enjoy the pictures!
Students began new topics in math and continue to learn and practice material with efficiency. We spent time as a whole group developing composition and decomposition strategies while completing mental math problems with large numbers.
In the classroom, in the woods, and on the playground I have felt thrilled to see how much compassion and appreciation flows between these children. Enjoy the pictures!
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Week half a dozen
In Writing Red Fox Clanners finished up topic sentences and successfully gave each other thoughtful feedback during peer revision sessions. Students determined the order in which they will present ideas from their notes when constructing paragraphs. Drafting has begun. We are planning to present our kites and some semblance of our reports at Big Circle next Friday.
In class we began to look at data we have collected at the Flying Deer Weather Center. We have begun to notice a relationships in wildlife activity and weather by using graphic organizers. Students completed level one of Bird Chaser, a bird identification game being created by Devin Franklin. Each child has a life list on which they will record bird sightings or hearings.
Both groups of mathematicians are finishing up their first unit of study and assessing what they mastered. It has been most enjoyable to work in small groups with these eager learners. A great deal of collaboration, concentration and fun describes each math session.
The Red Fox Clan had their first handball match of the year. Within 30 seconds the first goal was scored. All immediately agreed to not keep score because they have observed that it creates unnecessary tension. These kids are on to something.
In class we began to look at data we have collected at the Flying Deer Weather Center. We have begun to notice a relationships in wildlife activity and weather by using graphic organizers. Students completed level one of Bird Chaser, a bird identification game being created by Devin Franklin. Each child has a life list on which they will record bird sightings or hearings.
Both groups of mathematicians are finishing up their first unit of study and assessing what they mastered. It has been most enjoyable to work in small groups with these eager learners. A great deal of collaboration, concentration and fun describes each math session.
The Red Fox Clan had their first handball match of the year. Within 30 seconds the first goal was scored. All immediately agreed to not keep score because they have observed that it creates unnecessary tension. These kids are on to something.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Week 5
Red Fox Clan gave a great deal of attention to birds this past week. Inside we practiced the core routine of Mind's Eye where we learned about key features to pay attention to when identifying birds. Students then used what they learned. After observing a robin for a minute, field guides were closed and the robin was colored from memory. Red Fox Clanners also completed listening to Jon Young's talk on Universal Language.
Within minutes of being outside on Wednesday we walked upon white throated sparrows (50 or more) and juncos. Before identifying the birds, students listened to calls, songs, and observed the key features of the birds. We sang and called to the white throated sparrows, and many of them flew closer and sang back to us. Each child received a bird nature name as well. The clan spent an hour building a roaring fire in the rain (a great accomplishment). Students learned knots and then put up a tarp near the fire, which captured the heat and we had a warm and comfortable afternoon.
Pairs continued to research the kites of a particular country. Using color, students categorized or chunked related information and began creating a short outline to see the big picture. Next week we will work on topic sentences and drafting. With the help of many grandparents and grand friends, students buzzed around Friday morning and made much progress on their kites.
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Week 4
The Red Fox Clan had a short but exciting week of school, including our first session of Flying Deer with Devin Franklin!
Thank you all for being a part of the Goal Setting Conferences. As I have already expressed, I am delighted by the quality of self awareness these children have and the ease with which they reflect on and speak about their learning.
On Tuesday we began a "mini" kite project. Students were split up into pairs and given the task of exploring the history of kites within a particular country. They read provided resources, using highlighters and taking down information in their Flight Logs about how kites were used, developed and the country's stories and legends. Students will be asked to write a short report and build a kite from their designated country. The Red Fox Clan plans to share these reports and kites at the big circle we host later in October.
Red Fox Clanners started the day Wednesday recording information at a weather station before preceding to help built the tipi for the opening circle fire at Flying Deer. We began our investigation of bird language by first learning about chipmunks. After becoming chipmunks for a period of time (complete with "chipping" and treeing ourselves when a "fox" approached), students went on a wander to interact with chipmunks. Many returned with great stories and questions. Several students even managed to trap a chipmunk for all to catch a glimpse of when it escaped. We will continue to learn about the universal language of birds both inside the classroom and at Flying Deer next week.
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