Elementary Curriculum Newsletter
December 2019
Picture Perfect STEM
WHEN: TUESDAY, December 3, 2019
WHERE: Southland Center, 3700 S High Street
TIME: 4:30-6:30 pm
WHO: Any K-5 teacher
If you have never tried any of the 5 Picture-Perfect Science supplemental resources books - please consider attending this PD!!!
You will leave with 1 of the books: Picture-Perfect STEM K-2 or Picture-Perfect STEM 3-5
This supplemental resource feature ready-to-teach elementary science lessons designed to help K-5 teachers integrate science and reading in an engaging, kid-friendly way.
They provide easy-to-grasp background in Physical Science, Life Science, Earth and Space Sciences, and Engineering Practices. Step-by-step teaching notes, student pages, internet resources, assessments, suggestions for further inquiry, and more books to read are also included...the lessons are at your fingertips!
Picture-Perfect STEM incorporates Picture Books, The 5E Model, Inquiry, and Engineering.
PDS #37110
The Power of a Story: Using the Interactive Read Aloud to Lift Learners
WHEN: THURSDAY, December 5, 2019
WHERE: Southland Center, 3700 S High Street
TIME: 4:15-6:15 pm
WHO: Any K-5 teacher
Teachers will learn strategies for using the Interactive Read Aloud to meet Standards and Grade Level Expectations.
Teachers will receive resources for implementing the strategies learned.
PDS #37108
Mystery Science
This session will be on PDS soon
WHEN: WEDNESDAY, January 15, 2020
WHERE: Oakland Park Elementary School (3392 Atwood Terrace)
TIME: 4:30-5:45 pm (1hr 15 min)
WHO: Any K-5 teacher
Have you noticed Mystery Science has been added to your Clever account?
Columbus City Schools has been given a 1-year FREE subscription to the Mystery Science lessons.
Inspire students to question, analyze, and participate in hands-on science activities. STEM-inspired lessons that combine videos, discussion, and hands-on activities. A fun and interactive way to enhance content area or broaden the knowledge base of students and challenge them to be critical thinkers
This session will explore what Mystery Science is and give you time to look at lessons correlated to Ohio's Science Standards.
Looking a EVAAS Value Added Data - Only for 4th & 5th grade teachers
WHEN: TUESDAY, January 21, 2020
WHERE: Southland Center (3700 S High Street, Suite 120)
TIME: 4:15-6:15 pm
WHO: 4th & 5th grade teachers
ChickQuest (3rd grade classroom teachers)
Hatch some fun learning in your classroom!
The curriculum correlates with the Ohio Science Standard for 3rd grade (3.LS.3)
CCS in conjunction with Education Projects has received the Martha Holden Jennings grant for the second year in a row to continue training our CCS 3rd grade teachers on the ChickQuest program. We have been given 30 spaces for 3rd-grade teachers to attend the ChickQuest Professional Development and receive the curriculum and materials worth over $400!
This PD is for teachers that have NEVER attended ChickQuest.
If you attended in the past, you may reach out to Heather Allen (hallen704@columbus.k12.oh.us) to get a coupon for chicken eggs and student logbooks when you are ready to hatch chicks.
If you are an interested 3rd-grade teacher, please email HEATHER ALLEN (hallen704@columbus.k12.oh.us) to attend the full-day PD at the OSU 4H Extension Office. Lunch is provided
Wednesday, February 5
WHERE: Nationwide and Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center, OSU campus
2201 Fred Taylor Drive, Columbus, OH 43221
TIME: 8am - 4pm
***After you email Heather Allen, please fill out the CCS Request to Attend Professional Development. Schools are responsible for the substitute.
You must fill out the paperwork at least 30 days in advance - so please do not wait!
P3 SATURDAY ACADEMY
Columbus City Schools will be hosting its annual Saturday Academy!
Here are the details for this year's Academy:
- NEW Theme: Power of 3- Practice, Perseverance, Performance
- Grades 3, 4, 5
- Reading and Math instruction at grade level, and test preparation
- 7 District locations: Africentric, CSIA, East Linden, Ecole Kenwood, Olde Orchard, Southwood, West Mound
- Each site will have an Intervention Specialist and an ESL teacher
- Transportation will be provided
- A lite breakfast and "grab 'n go" lunch will be provided
- Teachers may apply online: https://applications.columbus.k12.oh.us/ccsdas/login/auth
- Submitting an application indicates you are able to commit to teach all 6 weeks of the Academy
- Families will register online through the IC Parent Portal in December - fliers and information will be coming soon!
- 2 Family meetings will be held during the Academy
What we need from you:
- Apply to teach!
- Encourage families to register their child!
2019 5th grade Science OST
US Census
CENSUS - April 2020
CENSUS - an official count or survey of a population, typically recording various details of individuals.
Census Fun Facts are student-friendly handouts that tie statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau to holidays, anniversaries, and other observances. These fact sheets—which are designed to be used at varying grade levels and across different subjects—can be used at the end of class (if students finish their work early), during a lighter day (perhaps when a substitute teacher is present), or on/before a holiday (when there may be an opportunity for flexibility outside the curriculum).
Thanksgiving Day Fun Facts
In the fall of 1621, the Pilgrims — early settlers of Plymouth Colony — held a three-day feast to celebrate a bountiful harvest. Many regard this event as the nation's first Thanksgiving.
Holiday Season Fun Facts
This festive season, or simply the holidays, is a time for gathering and celebrating with family and friends, gift-giving, reflection and thanks. To commemorate this time of year, the U.S. Census Bureau presents the following holiday-related facts and figures from its collection of statistics.
Success Criteria
How do you know whether your students are successful at learning what you wanted them to learn? How do they know whether they’re successful? How can students know whether or not they’ve achieved the intended learning or whether they’re making progress toward doing so?
Success Criteria
- Success Criteria provides a means for students and the teacher to gauge progress toward learning, thereby making learning visible to the teacher and the student.
- It lets students in on the secret that has been too often kept from them – what the destination looks like.
- Success criteria signals the learner about the destination and provides a map for how they will get there.
- It empowers learners to assess their own progress and not to be solely dependent on an outside agent (their teacher) to notice when they have arrived.
- Success Criteria have been shown to increase students’ internal motivation.
December 4 - National Cookie Day
The English word “cookie” is derived from the Dutch word koekie meaning “little cake.”
Hard cookie-like wafers have existed for as long as baking has been documented and they traveled well. However, they were usually not sweet enough to be considered cookies by modern-day standards.
The origin of the cookie appears to begin in Persia in the 7th century, soon after the use of sugar became common in the region. They then spread to Europe through the Muslim conquest of Spain. Cookies were common at all levels of society throughout Europe by the 14th century, from the royal cuisine to the street vendors.
Cookies arrived in America in the 17th century. Macaroons and gingerbread cookies were among the popular early American cookies.
In most English-speaking countries outside of North America, the most common word for cookie is “biscuit.” In some regions, both terms, cookies and biscuits are used.
Cookies are classified into different categories, with the most common ones being:
Bar cookies – Drop cookies – Filled cookies
Molded cookies – No bake cookies
Pressed cookies – Refrigerator cookies
Rolled cookies – Sandwich cookies
In 1976, Sesame Street included National Cookie Day on its calendar for the first time on November 26. The Cookie Monster also proclaimed his own National Cookie Day in the 1980 book The Sesame Street Dictionary.
Then in 1987, Matt Nader of the Blue Chip Cookie Company out of San Francisco created Cookie Day celebrating it on December 4.
December 7 - Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day
Each year on Dec. 7, Pearl Harbor Survivors, veterans, and visitors from all over the world come together to honor and remember the 2,403 service members and civilians who were killed during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. A further 1,178 people were injured in the attack, which permanently sank two U.S. Navy battleships (the USS Arizona and the USS Utah) and destroyed 188 aircraft.
On Aug. 23, 1994, the United States Congress designated Dec. 7 as National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day. Every year, remembrance events are held at the Pearl Harbor National Memorial, culminating in a commemoration ceremony on Dec. 7.
December 15 - Bill of Rights Day
The National Archives and Records Administration joins in the national celebration of the Bill of Rights, the first 10 amendments to the Constitution, which spell out our rights as Americans. It guarantees civil rights and liberties such as freedom of speech, press, and religion. It sets rules for due process of law and reserves all powers not delegated to the Federal Government to the people or the states. The original joint resolution proposing the Bill of Rights is on permanent display at the National Archives in Washington, DC.
The National Archives offers FREE elementary school distance learning programs.
Visit the National Archives without leaving your classroom!
Our free, interactive programs feature primary sources from our holdings. They provide teacher guides with pre- and post-program lessons.
Click here to check out the website
Scheduling Details:
- Available Tuesdays-Thursdays
- Must be scheduled at least two weeks in advance
- For groups of 10 or more students
- Multiple sites can connect at the same time
- We can deliver up to five programs per school per day. For schools with over five classes, we recommend connecting two to three classes at the same time or scheduling programs over multiple days.
Technology Requirements:
You can connect your class via traditional videoconferencing equipment or online via a computer with a webcam, microphone, and speakers.
Programs Available:
- Superhero Bill of Rights! for grades 3-5. The program is 45 minutes long and includes a teacher guide.
- The Constitution at Work for grades 4-5. The program is 45-60 minutes long and includes a teacher guide.
- The Charters of Freedom: Building a More Perfect Union for grades 3-5. The program is 45-60 minutes and includes a teacher guide.
December 22 - Winter Solstice 2019
In 2019 the Northern Hemisphere's winter solstice – the shortest day of the year – falls on Sunday 22 December.
It is the first time in four years that it hasn't fallen on 21 December, the solstice's most common date, although on rare occasion it can also occur on 20 or 23 December instead.
The winter solstice marks the date when the Earth's axis rotates to the point that the north pole has its maximum tilt from the sun, thus delivering the shortest period of daylight in the year.