The Happenings and Going Ons

My favorite part of teaching, and the part I just might be best at is bringing people together.   I'd like to take responsibility for the nature of our tremendous crew, but the truth is they came to me spectacular people.   We are a crew of great diversity; there are many talents ranging from humor to mathematical brilliance to quite philosophers.   The one commonality, the attribute that many teachers and parents comment on, the thread that makes our crew strong, is kindness. 

Over the last few weeks we have been working on many things: Answering our Big Idea question to "Getting What we Need",  building Portfolios, prepping for Ga Ga and constructing Ga Ga, starting a non-fiction/research paper, reading Where the Red Fern Grows and building character.

Below is a select few images from previous weeks and Important Upcoming Dates.

 Team Building

 We are a jellyfish

Pretending to be a Martian.  Noticed all the hands.

Happy T-Rex

Analyzing food waste graphs for expedition

Ga Ga Pit Preparation  

 Working together to solve a puzzle

 Referencing peer made blueprints to construct the mini Ga Ga pit.

 Crew standing around the Ga Ga Pit angles.

 Parents work while kids eat ice cream.

Adding soil to the playing field.

 Gettin' busy.

 Eight students, eight sides. Pretty cool!

 Eight sides and ten students.

Game on!  First round of Ga Ga Ball.  

Way to go gang, you rock!

Thank you to all the parents that help us make our plan a reality.  We could not have made this pit without your help, your tools and most importantly your advice. 

Thank you Ule, and all those that assisted, for this amazingly clever and highly entertaining gift.   This poster is gettin' professionally mounted and framed.

  

Important Dates:
May 22:          6^th Grade Portfolios due to Review Panel (taken care of at school)

May 29:          6^th Grade Showcase Portfolio Day (Individual appointments between 1:00 
                        and 5:00pm)

June 3:          Adventure Education Final Solo: Saint Mary’s Glacier (drivers/chaperones  
                       needed).

June 4:          Adventure Education Closing Ceremony (evening – exact time TBA)

June 5:          All-School Drum Circle – led by our 6^th graders
                      Picnic at park across the street (chaperones and potluck food needed)
                      Last Day of School

Ga Ga and Other Interest

Expedition
  
By now you may have heard a bit about our new Social Studies Expedition Case Study: “Waste Not, Want Not”. We are exploring our big idea: The availability and use of resources affects the well-being and movement of people and our guiding questions, specifically, What choices do people make when they have what they need through the lens of food waste?

About collecting food waste at home:  About 2/3 of the crew has taken home scales to measure the food waste post family meals.  The objective of this task is to collect enough data to construct graphs that help us develop claims based on factual food waste data.  Each student has agreed to measure food for at least one night, some kids have agreed to measure a weeks worth food waste.  The crew understands that this task may be difficult for some families on go.  I understand as well.  We all agreed to do what we can to support this project.   This is in no way a contest.
 
Our culminating Case Study 3 project will be a community education night on Wednesday, May 15 from 6:00-7:30 pm. I will share details closer to the event. 


MAPS Testing

This past Monday and Tuesday the crew completed the Spring MAPS testing.  This test provides great insight into a students Math and Literacy progress.  If you're interested in perusing the results send word. 


Ga Ga Pit 

Our service learning project, designing and building a Ga Ga Pit, is nearing the construction phase.  Letters have been delivered to hardware stores and below is a letter from the kids to you, the parents.  

The crew has discussed how to earn money for the development of the pit. Some of the crew suggested fund raising in the form of at home lemonade stands and yard sales.  I encouraged the kids interested to start a conversation with parents to discuss the possibility.  No one is required to have an at home fund raiser, only encouraged to follow through with their ideas.   
 

Important Upcoming Dates

May 6-7:         District Interim Testing

May 11:           Ga Ga Pit Construction

May 17-18:     Ga Ga Pit Construction

May 13:          Prospective Mesa students visit Mesa 
 
May 15:          Canceled: Expedition Community Education Night 6:00-7:30pm:

May 22:          6^th Grade Portfolios due to Review Panel (taken care of at school)

May 29:          6^th Grade Showcase Portfolio Day (Individual appointments between 1:00 
                        and 5:00pm)

June 3:          Adventure Education Final Solo: Saint Mary’s Glacier (drivers/chaperones  
                       needed).

June 4:          Adventure Education Closing Ceremony (evening – exact time TBA)

June 5:          All-School Drum Circle – led by our 6^th graders
                      Picnic at park across the street (chaperones and potluck food needed)
                      Last Day of School




Enjoy a few pics from some of our experiences.

 TEDx

 El Tren de la Muerta

 Student made Math Games

 School of Mines Exhibition