Catchin' Up

Over the last month we have had many things happen in our class.  Our visit to the Ice Core Lab, All School Meeting, Bootcamp, Fall Break, Interim Testing, Maps Testing, Halloween, Keystone Science School and of course all things we do while in class.  Below are a select few images and brief descriptions from a handful of our adventures. 

 The National Ice Core

   -38 degrees and still smiling.

      Inside these shinny tubes are 1000's of ice cores from one drill hole in Antarctica( ~ 2miles of ice)

                                              Boot Camp

                                       Working hard to beat the other half of the crew.

Alex expressing the sweet face of victory.

                    Ahh, the joy of climbing a top something not normally aloud to climb on.

                                                                   Whole Crew.

                                I believe Shane pulled off 23 laps.  The most of anyone.

                                                Keystone Science School 

Our crew was integrated with both Ms. Lisa's and Mr. Josh's class.   Mixing the groups was a great opportunity for all groups to experience different perspectives and different personalities.   Over all the commingling went well. The images below consist of characters from all three classes.

      Working hard to generate a hypothesis.

                                    Measuring the diameter of the a Lodgepole Pine.

           Brogan from Mr. Josh's crew uses the tree dichotomous chart to identify the species of pine.

                          Sydney from Mr. Josh's crew helps Shane measure a data plot.

 Tiernan showing off...the blue fungus stained wood used to make the tables.  

Wood harvested from beetle kill trees.

                                   Hopper's cleaning up after Thursday night dinner

           Weathered wood highlighting insect damage.  Some of the tracks are from the Pine Beetle.

            Part our crew, part Ms. Lisa's and Mr. Josh's, hangin' inside a Lodgepole Pine tepee. 

      When the weather conditions are right the forest service will set this tepee of lumber ablaze.

Tech in School: Parent's Approval

Times are changing, specifically, in how we get and process our information and communicate with the outside world.   The style in which we learn and how we learn is now being defined by new information sources.   It's clear that many, of the more "mature" generation, are conflicted with how tech fits into the modern ed. process.  It's not completely clear to me how it best fits either.  However, I do agree that tech plays a huge part in modern ed, and as time rolls on its place in the classroom will become more defined.   

Many students are now bringing tech to class.  The school is fine with this as long as parents and students' have signed the Bring Your Own Tech (BYOT) agreement.  If this contract has not been signed than a student is not allowed to have tech out in class or in their desk; it must remain in their pack.   It's also important to note that tech is not allowed out at lunch or during recess.  Students' perceive lunch and recess as free time, therefore, it is theirs to use as they like. This is not true.  Certainly they have a different sort liberty than in a classroom, but boundary's are still in place, and must be respected by all.  

To review the BYOT agreement click the link below.   

BYOT Agreement