January and February News
PACE Information
Newcomer Parent Meeting
This information session will help answer questions about our program and curriculum. Although it is desgined for newcomers, all PACE parents are welcome to join.
Wednesday, Feb 19, 2020, 07:00 AM
7500 Marchman Way, Plano, TX, USA
Kindergarten
Kindergarten instruction will be on Fridays from 1:40-2:10 each week. We have already begun looking at analogies, and we even did our first science experiment last week.
First Grade
"S" is for substitute.
"C" is for combine.
"A" is for adapt.
"M" is for minimize and maximize.
"P" is for put to other uses.
"E" is for eliminate.
"R" is for rearrange.
Now we are officially SCAMPER SUPERHEROES and can apply critical, creative, and logical thinking to different situations and problems!
Look out world... HERE WE COME!
Second Grade
3rd Grade CRITICAL THINKERS are solving the mystery of The Eleventh Hour!
Deduction and logical reasoning is the name of the game as our third graders are concluding the mystery behind Horace’s eleventh birthday. Hidden codes, strange messages, and clues have us all wondering who has eaten the birthday feast.
Third Grade
Ask a driving question based on our passion.
Conduct relevant, reliable research.
Effectively present an appropriate product!
That's what we are focused on during our Genius Hour Unit in third grade. We are thinking about things we are good at, what excites us, and what we want to learn more about. This will drive our learning and allow us to produce student-centered products.
Fourth Grade
ROBOTICS
How does technology improve efficiency?
What is the purpose of technology?
Fourth graders started our new unit of robotics with an understanding of its history. Did you know that historians believe one of the earliest forms of flight began as early as 350 B.C? This led us into Isaac Asimov's Three Laws of Robotics. They are:
Law One: A robot may not injure a human being, or through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm, unless this would violate a higher order law.
Law Two: A robot must obey any orders given to it by human beings, except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.
Law Three: A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.
Uses of Robots and Science Fiction
Fourth graders had an opportunity to research an industry that uses robots. They showcased their learning with a presentation to their classmates. They looked at the current uses of robots in their industry, the types of robots used, the capabilities the robots have, and why they are used instead of humans.
Next, we explored Jules Verne and many other science fiction authors. We kept track of impossible events, futuristic events, and the impact of science or technology while reading.
Guess what's next? Lego Mindstorm ROBOTICS!!!
Fifth Grade
During this semester, your child will participate in the Stock Market Game in PACE class. An exciting, real-world simulation, the Stock Market Game enables participants to discover the risks and rewards involved in decision-making, the sources and uses of capital, and other related economic concepts.
Over the course of 10 weeks, participants invest a hypothetical $100,000 in NASDAQ,
Amex, and NYSE-listed common stocks. They research stocks, study how the financial markets work, choose their portfolios, manage budgets, follow companies in the news, and make decisions on what companies to invest in. They can also compare their performance to peers on a weekly basis.
Students are enthusiastic about SMG because of its realism, team-based decision-making, and genuine fun. Student team members collaborate to determine their own investment decisions and check their ranking weekly versus all state teams in their division.
Over the next few weeks, your child will be learning the basics of the stock market so
they are prepared to begin trading. This is an excellent opportunity for you to discuss the stock market at home by watching the news, and reading the newspaper/internet together to
reinforce understanding. Once the game has started, you will enjoy watching the stock your
child’s team has chosen. I am looking forward to starting the Stock Market Game with your child and witnessing the educational experiences they will gain from it.
Mrs. Deanna Lowenthal
Email: Deanna.Lowenthal@pisd.edu
Location: 7500 Marchman Way, Plano, TX, USA
Phone: 4697522376