March GT Newsletter
Mrs. Kruse
GT is Springing into Action!
Kindergarten-We would like to welcome Kindergarten students and families to the GT Program! Kindergarten has been spending time doing “getting to know you activities,” while also exploring the PETS (Primary Education Thinking Skills) characters! The P.E.T.S. characters focus on Divergent Thinking. So far, they have met Dudley the Detective and Isabel the Inventor!
First Grade-First Grade is exploring, “Inventors and Their Inventions.” They are learning how an invention is a way to create something that solves a problem. They will research a specific invention and its inventor. Next, they will use a creative tool to brainstorm called SCAMPER ( substitute, combine, adapt, modify, put to another use, eliminate, and reverse). This encourages each student to think about how they can improve existing inventions.
Second Grade-Second Grade has been disassembling their Lego WeDo projects from Open House and creating their own unique designs and programs. Next, they will begin an exciting Dinosaur project which will require research and then decide on a way to present their final project to the class.
Third Grade-Third Grade was introduced to Code.org this week and they LOVED it! They are extending their prior knowledge of coding and doing a great job. They are also beginning a new project on Exoplanets or Extrasolar Planets. This project requires that they choose a planet, do extensive research, and present their findings in a unique and individual way.
Fourth Grade-Fourth Grade was also recently introduced to Code.org…and they too were intrigued by the challenges in coding found in the program. Now they are starting their Road Trip project. This project takes family vacation planning to another level for them! They will be given a budget in which they have to stay within for their two week road trip to a location of their choice. Students will visit 4 landmarks or national monuments, calculate gas, mileage, and stay on budget. Students will present their project using a slideshow, i-movie, poster, skit or other media.
Fifth Grade-Fifth Grade took on the Accelerated Computer Science Course that Code.org offers. It is a course of twenty lessons all geared towards coding at a higher level. The goal is to successfully complete this course and move on to an Hour of Code training of their choice. Fifth Grade is also starting their Culture Shock project. This project entails the student choosing a culture to research extensively. Upon completion we will have a Bazaar that allows them to showcase the individuality of the culture they chose.
Mark Your Calendar!
Date: Thursday, April 27th
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Place: Prosper High School
Mrs. Kruse
Email: wmkruse@prosper-isd.net
Location: Judy A. Rucker Elementary School, South Craig Road, Prosper, TX, United States
Phone: 469-419-2100
Twitter: @GTProspeISD