December Learning Commons News
President Obama asks America to learn computer science
Hour of Code
For the whole month of December, GPS Scouts will be learning to code. We have signed up with the national hour of code through hourofcode.org. We will be using an app on the iPad with Kindergarten and First grade called Kodable. Second grade will participate in a tutorial through the hour of code site. They will have a choice of Angry Birds and Frozen characters to work with as they code.
The second phase of our coding activities will be for the children to work with the Bee Bots that our PTO purchased for us. The Bee Bots are programmable robots in the shape of bees. The children will work in teams on a grid with pictures. They will be asked to program the Bee Bot to go to the pictures in a particular order. They will need to program the Bee Bot to accomplish this activity.
Why teach programming to young children? Below is a link to some information on why it is important for us to teach computer programming to our children. Look for pictures and videos as we explore this exciting world!
November Recap
Research in the Learning Commons!
We had many exciting events in the Learning Commons during November. Many first and second grade classes began working on research. We are using the Super 3 Research model this year at GPS. The three steps are Plan, Do, Review! The children have used books and internet sources for their research needs.
First and second grade classes used the project lab to type their writing to publish class books.
Second grade Native American Research
Second grade used the GPS Symbaloo page to learn about Native American Tribes.
Typing Skills
Several first and second grade classes used the project lab to practice typing their writing from class.
US Symbols
Mrs. McCain's class used PebbleGo database as well as books to research important US Symbols.
Peter Reynolds Author Study - Global Read Aloud
Second graders competed the Peter Reynolds's author study through the Global Read Aloud by reading his book, Going Places. Students used their creativity to build an object that would move.
Turkey QR codes
Second grade worked with the iPads using QR codes to learn about turkeys. Do you know what the red flap of skin under the turkey's beak is called?