Expert Cards

With MAP testing and MAP testing parties, we focused the time that we had on preparing our Expert Fact Cards for a plant or animal from the Cove Forest at Jones Gap State Park.  Students will get to share their expertise while on the trip.  Take a look at their great work.

Joshua's Expert Card

Zaylie's Expert Card

Imani's Expert Card

Sariah's Expert Card

Jacob's Expert Card

Shanelle's Expert Card

Cameron's Expert Card

Samuel's Expert Card

Acid Rain

Today students looked at acid rain as the possible culprit in the case of the dying fish of Gray Area. They tested the acidity of the Gray Area rain and also that of of the different bodies of water in the area.  We found some interesting results.  Next week we will learn more about acid rain and consult with our next suspect, the owner of the toy factory, to try to make sense of our findings.

We also continued our novel study of Listening to Crickets, and began research on the student selected plants and animals of Jones Gap to prepare our expert cards for the field study.

Field Study to the Richland County Judicial Center

We had a fantastic time observing the trial of Mr. Sticky Fingers and the case of the stolen cell phone. Students got to hear opening statements, observe evidence and witness testimonies from both the prosecution and defense, and take part in the the final verdict.  The beautiful day and outdoor lunch were a hit as well!

Second Grade Math Bingo

We were flying solo today with our third graders on field study this week.  We took the opportunity to wrap up our first math topic on organizing data.  Students completed a choice menu to review finding median, mode, and range, and then showed their progress on a topic check-up.  Here is some of their great work!

Josh Explains Median
Imani Explains Range
Zaylie's Age Line Plot

Math Bingo Links:
Mean, Median, Mode Toads Video

Top 10 Baby Names

Lunch Choice Poster

Online Game 1

Online Game 2

Online Game 3

Systems Presentations and Bio-Indicators

We started our day with some awesome Systems Project Presentations!  I am really proud of the products that were shared!  It has been great for the presenters as well as the audience to practice systems thinking and see the examples that are being shown.

Pet Store System

Airplane System

Five Nights at Freddie's Video Game System

Basketball Court System

Video Game System

US Army Combat Training System

Honey Production System

Honey Production System without Bees

Restaurant System

Pac-Man System

We didn't neglect our Gray Area investigation.  Students reflected on our last time together and compared a river to the report card of it's watershed. They role-played a reenactment of a meeting of the Gray Area Board of Supervisors where our suspect, the owner of the water slide, was consulted and shared results from chlorine tests conducted down the river from his business.  Students took a closer look at the results, performed a bio-assessment of their own on a macro-invertebrate called daphnia to check the more long term effects of chlorine on the area, and examined some secret documents that provided further clues.

Meeting of the Gray Area Board

Observing Daphnia

Examining the Secret Files

Daphnia Test Samples

We also read the second chapter of Listening to Crickets, our novel study about environmentalist Rachel Carson.  We are learning from her example and identifying Habits of Mind that Rachel used to find success in her field.