STEM4 Update
November 2016
Save the Date for Movement Mania!
Math Transition
We cannot emphasize enough how important that your learner be as fluent and accurate with basic math facts as possible. All STEM4 students use XtraMath as a way to measure their fluency in multiplication and division facts. There are also many other free apps and games that you can use, but sometimes nothing beats a good-old game of Fact Card War (playing war using the answers to see who wins each round). Or Slap. Or just counting how many they can solve in two minutes, and shooting for more each time.
We practice as much as time allows us in class, but notice that many students are not showing mastery in our multiplication goals because their facts are not accurate. Your help with this is greatly appreciated!
Recess Robot Teams
Science Fusion
We are preparing to transition into our study of electricity and circuits. There will be a lot of hands-on explorations and activities in this unit. We will also analyze the surprising similarities and differences between electrical and thermal energy. We can't wait to share all of this with you at our capstone.
Social Studies Fusion
The canals were extremely important to the development of Ohio's economy. Ms. Karen from the Metroparks visited us to teach us about the history and to help us understand what life was like for families who worked the canal. Can you believe that over 300 miles of canals were dug by shovels and manpower? If you have the chance, we have some wonderful historical canal sites in Peninsula and Valley View. We are looking forward to a visit from a civil engineer who is working on the Towpath Project in the Flats.
After canals, we will learn about the growth of railroads, the National Road, and even other transportation in Ohio. These topics will connect with our standards about the movement of immigrants into Ohio in the 1800's, helping to build our infrastructure.
ELA and Narrative Writing
We have been using our Ohio Studies Newspapers to work on graphic sources of information, finding definition context clues, summarizing articles, finding main ideas, and going back to find specific details to answer comprehension questions about the topic. The Ohio Adventure Textbook was very useful in analyzing the differences between the four regions in Ohio. We also use that resource to practice previewing a longer text to make predictions and to scan for targeted information strategically.
We are finishing up a six paragraph narrative about a mouse that gets into Pleasant Valley for the first time. Some of the students are working efficiently enough to also have time to publish their story as an animated video. Watch for these to be posted! We will next work on a multi-paragraph personal narrative, including dialogue. We hope to have enough time for one more fictional story before we have to switch to Opinion writing.
STEM4 Team
Website: pcsdstem4.weebly.com
Phone: 440-885-2380