Dot Day and Farm to Table

 On September 14, I was able to attend a training with other regional public librarians.  A real life training for the 1st time during school since fall 2019.  

Take aways were connecting to bring resources together and bring families back to the library!  So enlightening...plus we discussed future ready index and current state of our youth.

While I was away, students were working on a variety of Dot Day inspired projects.

I used the print out from Novel Effect for mini frames to make their mark for 1st and 2nd

Art Display

Plus 3rd and 4th made collaborative dots.  Here is a link to one blog that they can be found on.

Collaborative Dot

Here is the start of the display....

Plus we used a few other Dot related activities like creating Dot inspired creations out of caps and using an e-light bright website.

Dot game

lego wall...says STEAM 

The last group finishes up on Tuesday  :)

Plus we jumped in to farm to table lessons.  Those will be finishing up Monday and Wednesday this week.  So lots of catching uthis week.

Grade 2 and 3 make squash pasta.  Combine pureed cooked squash or pumpkin with flour...it becomes playdough like...roll into a log...cut into pieces...then cook.  

Thanks to my friend Amelia for this recipe.  

  

Grade 1 and K tasted zucchini bread.  I did a cooking demo for grade 1.  This recipe was from another dear gardening friend LeeAnn.

Grade 4 did herbs and cauliflower crust pizza.  Yum!

It has been a great couple of weeks.  Plus one of my coding sites updated and is ready for fun.

We are talk more about Johnny Applebee's, pumpkins, fall, and more!

Off to a new week!

Climate and Culture with Gerry Brooks

 Last week, a fellow teacher mentioned that Gerry Brooks was coming to a town about an hour away.

Initially I wanted to go then I doubted myself - I am not particularly social and just at an awkward phase of life.  I know that they say middle school and high school is the worst - no wait until you are in your mid forties with 6 kids...

So off to Jamestown NY we went without a plan for dinner but the goal was a night of fun and laughs.

One of my teacher besties re-connected, shopped in a cute hippie shop, and explored the town.

Soon we added another teacher and off to dinner we went at a hip craft beer bar called the Beer Snob.  I had a chicken taco.  YUM - if you know me - this is not my fav food - but one that I learning to love.

Then we caught up with more teachers...when we saw him across the street...yes we screamed like teen fan girls at him!  

Soon it was time to find seats and get some group pictures.  I will not post them without permission.

Next up was the actual show...it was almost two hours about improving the culture of our schools.  I do not want to give up too much of the show.  It was not only hilarious, but deeply moving.  The ending sent the tone.  One big take away is re-looking at my way of thinking.  YES this theme keeps coming back to me. 

Guess it is time to work on my outlook.  Look at my blessings.  See the glass as half full.

Totally worth my time...Glad that I got out of my head and took the chance.

Had to get a selfie!

Cute theater

Here he is!

So my message to myself is to take the chance...make the time...go for it!

Internet Safety and week 1

 The first two weeks of school are wrapping.  Not sure how anyone is going to sustain for a 5 day week!!!

It has been a mostly great 2 weeks...my students are following routines and procedures, my own personal kids are settling into the routine, etc...

So what do we cover the first week of STEAM?  INTERNET SAFETY!!!

I cover internet safety directly twice a year - first of school and first week after Christmas break.

My goal is to plant seeds of safety, review key topics, and hope to influence their choices at home on technology.  At school, there are limitations and filters, but home is a complete different world.  Some have little technology experiences and others are on devices with few limitations.  It is an entire span of options.  

Kindergarten got to explore centers and learn what is 'STEAM'!  Some of the activities include pattern blocks, keva planks, and a coloring sheet.  

Here is a good time to re-post my favorite two quotes:

K students hard at work with creativity!

This was a car

Here is a flower

And a face - you can see eyelashes

1st grade uses Common Sense Media's lesson plans...the goal is to pause and think online then they color a work sheet to remind them to use their ARMS (to balance screen time), LEGS (to stand up to bullies online), GUT (to listen to their gut online), FEET (to make good digital footprints), HEART (to be nice and kind online), and HEAD (to think when online).  

  

2nd grade does a similar activity - we just dive deeper into the same topics

3rd grade talks about the "Rings of Responsibility" to look at how our choices online affect us and others.

Finally 4th grade works on thinking about their "Media Choices" both online and offline media (like books).  By talking about healthy and unhealthy choices, students get an idea of what is good for them.  

We use the curriculum created by Common Sense Media.  Common Sense Media

In addition, we do some non-tech topics.  

1st grade read part of Dreaming Up - to learn how play helps us as engineers

2nd grade was discussing team work by reading 

3rd and 4th grade read What Do You Do With an Idea then created light bulbs.  This took us two classes so some students are still finishing up :)

The other side of the light bulb is how they will change the world!  So many cool ideas from simple clean up the earth to designing new items to feeding the poor...very creative thinkers!

I have picked the school garden twice with some lovely cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, onions, and potatoes!

Now we are working on computer log ins...the first time is DAUNTING...but it has be done...look for more updates and hands on pictures soon.

Plus we are getting ready to launch our traveling mural project again...I wonder what ideas they will generate...I am liking the ideas from our What Do You Do with an IDEA activity...maybe mini lightbulbs and big letters in the middle?

Traveling Mural Info

Look for periodic updates as the year progresses!