Symmetrical Monsters

Kindergarteners visited the lab to learn about symmetry. After viewing a short video on symmetry around the world, students looked at a variety of monster puppets to see if they were symmetrical. Students had keen eyes noticing differences in eyes, mouths, spots, and antennae that prevented the puppets from being symmetrical. They then had the chance to create their own symmetrical monsters using a symmetry template in the drawing program Early Learning Toolkit.

Alliteration Slideshow 2009

Here is the alliteration slideshow that debuted at the 2nd Grade program, A Small Part of the World, last Friday. The students were so creative!

Alliteration Slideshow 2009 from Anna Baralt on Vimeo.

Graphing with Skittles

First graders continue learning about different types of graphs. During this visit, each student was given a bag of fun-size Skittles to graph. Our goal for the project was to determine if each bag of candy has the same number inside. Once the students graphed their bags independently using The Graph Club, we gathered as a class to tally which number appeared the most. In case you are wondering, a typical bag of fun-size Skittles has 15 Skittles inside. This was definitely a tasty way to graph!

Typing Away in 4th Grade

After fixing a few issues with our new typing program, Type to Learn 4, 4th grade students are getting back on schedule with their lessons. Each class will visit the computer lab twice a week for 20 minutes to practice their typing skills. Students progress through sequential lessons, learning two to three keystrokes at a time. Lessons begin with the home row ASDF JKL;. Keyboard covers are used to encourage tough typing and assessments are built into the program. The goal for the year is to have students leaving 4th grade typing 15 WPM with at least 90% accuracy.

You can learn more about the program they are using from the Type to Learn 4: Agents of Information website.

2nd Graders Learn All About Alliteration

Alliteration is defined as "the repetition of the same sounds or of the same kinds of sounds at the beginning of words or in stressed syllables" (Answer.com) One example of alliteration is a tongue twister. Who can forget Peter Piper picked a pack of pickled peppers!

Second graders are creating country alliterations in conjunction with their "Small Part of the World" program. Using the first sound of their first name, they were each assigned a country from around the world. After learning on which continent their country is located as well as what its flag looks like, they used dictionaries to identify nouns, adjectives, and verbs that begin with their sound. Next week, they will write their alliterations and illustrate them.

1st Graders Use the Super Grouper Tool

During their visit to the lab this week, first graders and I discussed the concept of sorting. We talked about different ways to organize materials and brainstormed ways we use sorting in our everyday lives. This discussion led to the introduction of a new tool in Kidspiration called "super grouper". Students used teacher-created templates to sort in Kindergarten. As first graders, students learned to use the tool independently.

After a group sorting activity on the floor, students were sent to the computers. Each student was given a card with a topic to sort such as fruits/not fruits, fast/slow, and round/square. Here is an example:

4th Grade Washington, DC WebQuest

Fourth grade students are participating in a WebQuest about Washington, DC during their first three week rotation in the computer lab. A WebQuest is an inquiry-based activity in which the information used by students comes from the Web. According to Bernie Dodge, the inventor of the WebQuest, a real WebQuest....

1) is a task that is a scaled down version of something adults would do as citizens or workers.
2) requires higher level thinking including analysis, problem-solving, synthesis, creativity and judgment.
3) makes good use of the Web.

Here is some information about our project. You can see the complete WebQuest here.

Project Introduction:
The Funtastic Travel Agency in downtown St. Petersburg has asked for your help. They are planning a bus tour across the continental U.S. with stops in each state's capital as well as Washington, DC. Since there is so much to do in D.C. and each person taking the tour has different interests, they are asking you to help plan individualized tours for each of the passengers.

Student Tasks:
Task 1
Read the bibliographical information of your assigned passenger and find six places in Washington, D.C. that you think will be of interest to him or her. Use the Web sites provided to identify the six tour stops as well as to research interesting facts about each one. Use the handout provided to record your facts.

Task 2
Use the information gathered during the research process to create a series of Web pages using iWeb. Your presentation should include text, graphics, and audio (if time permits).