Notes from the Learning Lab
Lots of News!
Grandparents' Day
Reading Workshop
Character Study
Book Clubs have really started to take off in our workshop. The Lunar Chronicles, a fairy tale/science fiction genre has formed beginning with Cinder (a Cinderella story) in which readers meet strong characters and a page turning plot. Now these same readers have transitioned into Scarlet (a red riding hood story), which introduces new characters including Wolf and Grand-Mère, which connect with the classic fairy tale.
Other Book Clubs include Shingaling and Pluto, which are companion stories to Wonder about secondary characters. Readers had great discussion about these characters and connected back to Auggie from Wonder as well as themes that crossed over into these other characters' lives.
Writing Workshop
Fiction Writing
Writers have also been putting their characters on a roller coaster ride, which basically means that there is a beginning, an inciting incident, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution (ending). Everyone has worked hard to develop dialogue as well as develop scenes and organize the way each story is told. We are very proud of our writers.
Social Studies
Explorers and Colonial Times
Recently, students have been learning about the early 13 colonies- New England, Middle, and Southern colonies as well as the differences between them. Each person has researched general information about each colony including early leaders, beliefs, and resources in each region of the colony. Then, each learner chose a "state" within that colony to explore more closely. The research turned into applying it to making a Minecraft colony of their own tying in their knowledge and creativity. They have turned out amazing! We are very proud of the kids for taking on this big project and also screen casting a tour of their colony. See below.
Science Investigation
The M n M Investigation
Math Workshop
Fractions and Ratios
6th Grade- Students over the past month have transitioned from fractions (multiplying and dividing positive and negative fractions) and using fractions in order of operations to learning about ratios, rates, and proportions. Really, the two concepts are similar, so they have flowed well together. Students have learned how to simplify rates, figure unit rates, solve proportions, and then solve word problems using ratios and rates.