Life Long Learning

Recently, I have found a couple of new pathways for online learning.  Some result in a certificate, micro-credentials, and even free materials.

THE BEST PART IS THAT THE FIRST TWO ARE 100% FREE!  I think that EverFi will also be free as well.

A teacher in the 21st century is partially evaluated on continuing to learn and grow.

I will share some resources and websites for my fellow educators to use and share!

The first one that I found was through online Facebook group called "Future Ready Librarians".  The group told me about was the Sesame Street Community.  The website offers both webinars and mini-courses.  They are designed for 2 to 5 year olds, but the information is very helpful for teachers who are working with Pre-K and K students!  I just completed my first course called "Building a Reader".  I earned a certificate as well as 25 sesame street themed books!

Sesame Street Communities

The second item that I have found could be addicting!  It is Microsoft in Education online courses.  It has a fun badge earning environment.  You earn points, certificates, and badges.  Feel free to connect with me to learn all about the Microsoft Suite and Skype opporunities!  I am just getting started, so look for more information as I earn badges and points!

Microsoft in Education

Follow ME

Next fall, I hope to get a micro-credential in STEM education through EverFi.  I hope to apply in mid-August for the fall session on STEM.  The company also offers one in Financial Education. 

Look for continuing information about this opportunity as well!
EVERFI

Excel, engineering, and more

STEAM is moving in fast forward! 

Last week was Read Across America.  The school participated in themed clothing days, Dr. Seuss inspired trivia, and a Dr. Seuss book time line.  On the timeline, classrooms made a "mark" on which books the class read. 

It was a great fun week for the students.  Then the 3rd and 4th graders used an Excel template to create a small chart with three data points!  The students are using another part of the Office 365 suite!

Grade 1 and 2 are working on learning about ENGINEERS and the Engineering Design cycle.  The fun read aloud is called "POP The Invention of Bubble Gum" by Meghan McCarthy



Then the students worked on "testing" materials like an engineer with a variety of 3D shapes.

Kindergarten has been working on "name" rockets and learning to log into the computer. 

Here is an example of the inspiration and a link.  Students had to learn to do this with their LAST name which can be a challenge for some students!  NAME ROCKETS

Look for more pictures soon

Read Across America

Theodore Seuss Geisel
Dr. Seuss
Theo LeSeig

No matter what you call him...he is a great author who penned over 50 books!  Our school as many other schools across the United States participated in "READ ACROSS AMERICA" which is by the National Education Association.  Read Across America

In our school, there were three main activities!  Each day had a clothing inspiration based on one of his books. 

Fox in Socks
Monday February 26—Wear your silly socks

Cat in the Hat
Tuesday February 27—Wear a fun hat

Wacky Wednesday

Wednesday February 28—Wear mismatched/backwards clothes

Theodore Thursday
Thursday March 1— Dress up as your favorite Dr. Seuss Character

Sleep Book
Friday March 2—Wear your pajamas or comfortable clothes (no slippers)

The title teacher and librarian created Dr. Seuss trivia on the library windows.  I designed a timeline of 50 Dr. Seuss and Theo LeSeig books.  This was so much fun finding new to me Dr. Seuss and Theo LeSeig books to read with the students and share with the staff!

In STEAM, each grade level did a variety of Dr. Seuss inspired activities. 

I created two centers - truffula trees and LEGO patterns based on ideas found on Pinterest.

Other classes explored Seussville and Lorax on the computer!

Kindergarten watched "Ten Apples Up on Top" on YouTube and built towers out of KEVA planks, colored 1-100 pages, and made LEGO patterns


Inspiration links from Pinterest - LEGO PATTERNS, 1-100 color sheets, and PINTEREST

Plus I have listed two products on Teachers Pay Teachers - STEMbrarian

Check out some of the fun pictures below!

Truffula Trees

Truffula Tree

Seuss inspired creature and poem

Trivia display and giant Cat in the Hat 

Lego pattern house

Lego pattern structures

LEGO pattern face

LEGO patter

                                                                                                                      

Dr. Seuss "Cat in the Hat" Patterns

3 dimensional Cat in the Hat pattern

KEVA planks - 10 Apples Up On Top

Structural Engineers at work

Trying for a TALL tower

Maple Time

Many years ago, my Aunt Rita sent me an article from the Washington Post about a PA Maple Taste and Tour.  I was clueless about this yearly event before this article.  Here is a link to that article from 2009 Washington Post article

This has started a journey of learning for our entire family.  What have we learned?

• We learned about and read "Miracles on Maple Hill"
• We held the actual newbery medal for the book
• We learned about the history of maple syrup
• We learned that mud and snow are great weather for maple sap to run
• We learned that it runs until you hear the peepers
• Most of all, my husband and I wanted to try this ourselves

So...we were thrilled to find a few maple trees on our new property. 

This summer, my husband and I moved from the city to the country.  On our 1 acre lot, we have 2-3 maple trees!  We have contacted our local maple syrup expert Jan Woods, picked up spiels and tubing, and purchased food grade buckets.

Today (in the rain), we tapped the maple trees.  We shared the fun with Tim's cousin and some of her children.  Here's hoping for the sap runs well.

You can check out Hurry Hill Farm online or at the PA Maple tour

Hurry Hill Museum

Look for more pictures and updates about our maple sugaring adventure!

SNOW

Most children rejoice at this word...adults have mixed reactions.

I decided to show the third and fourth graders how SNOW can bring together science, art, and math!

I was inspired by Free Technology for Educators blog this week.  It had several great links about man-made snow, "snowflake Bentley", and more!

I took his videos and the idea of a tinker tray such as this one created by "What Can You do with Paper and Glue" and created my own snowflake creation activity.

Students had access to q-tips, pipe cleaners, two sizes of popsicle sticks, beads, pom pom puffs, construction paper, and glue.  The idea was to create a dendrite or iconic six sided snowflake.

Below are a variety of the creations created by the students this week on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday!

If you have not the book entitled "Snowflake Bentley", then you need to add it to your winter must-read list.

Inventors and Patents

3rd and 4th grade learned and tried PAIRED PROGRAMMING with Code.org two weeks ago!  Plus they have been reading about Chester Greenwood.  I bet that you are wondering who Chester Greenwood is!  He is credited as the creator of earmuffs.  You can learn all about his improvements in the book "Earmuffs for Everyone" by Meghan McCarthy.  There is now even a Chester Greenwood day in Maine (the first Saturday in December).  Chester Greenwood Day article

Here is a link to Meghan McCarthy's website - Meghan McCarthy

As we were reading students started asking questions about PATENTS!  After some web searching, I found the US Patent website for students.   US PTO

The students loved the "collector cards" as well as the "Spot the Invention" activity.

In addition, the students learned about patents used at the X Games!

Next week it is onto the topic of TRADEMARKS!

PICTURE STEM

Students in grades K, 1, and 2 are working hard to complete a variety of PICTURE STEM activities.
PICTURE STEM is put together by Purdue University and it a completely FREE curriculum

Last week, Kindergarten read "I Get Wet" and talked about water!  Then students had an opportunity for free choice engineering.










First grade read "I See a Kookabura" and talked about animal habitats.

Second grade are did two separate activities with PICTURE STEM.  Students learned about our engineering challenge, read "Nibbles Guide to Hamsters", and did an animal sorting activity!







Here are the books that were used and a link to PICTURE STEM:

CLICK ON THIS LINK for more information - PICTURE STEM

Olympics Cross Curricular

Today at Wattsburg Elementary, the special area teachers (physical education, library, art, and music) collaborated to create 3 stations focused on the OLYMPICS!  Students rotated through each station.  The students spent about 15 minutes at each station.

At the literarcy/music station, students read the book "Olympics" by BG Hennessey.  Then students learned about the national anthem and the open ceremony music.  Finally, students "marched" or "paraded" around the auditorium to the opening ceremony music!

The second station that students went to was physical education.  Students learned about speed skating, the color/metal of each medal, and the podium stand.  Students got to take turns in heats doing "speed skating".  Each student took two rectangular "carpet" square pieces, turned them carpet side down, and stood on the back of the carpet pieces.   Students then attempted to skate around the gym in a large "circle".  The top two times in each heat were recorded.  Then the top 3 students in each home room were awarded "medals" made out of paper and string.  Finally, these award winning students stood on the podium for a picture!

The third station was art station.  The students learned about the 5 rings, the colors, and the history behind them.  Then students got time to color the following olympics graphic as well as the rings!