Time for Research !

Second and Third grades are well in to their rotations for reserach. Second grade is looking at the Solar System, using the Super Three. They have books, encyclopedia and a data base for information. A class rotates through the three stations for 15-20 minutes apiece. We will do this for two to three weeks. Students have chosen thier own topics in the subject of the solar system. They must cite thier sources very simply. Usually we do dinosuars but... curriculum has changed. Oh well we may get to the dino play before the end of the year or not. Third grade is looking at Maryland Out of Doors. Each class has a different set of topics, Backyard animals, The Bay or Endangered Species. Yes, Maryland Department of Resources has an endangered species list. Fascinating ! It includes the bald eagle and the brook lamprey. They too rotate through three stations, including my webpage with links to sites with vetted information, and different reading levels. Third Grade was introduced to the Big6 Reserach method and we go back to a flow map every week so we know where we are in the reserach process, they will be making a slide presentations fro a final project so I can certify that third grade going into fourth grade knows the basics of MS Power Point. Working on first grade reserach on Trees THis is a green school activity and should help our poor little saplings in the bus loop from being damaged by little bodies swinging and bending them. Sigh.

Three quarters of year

Just finishing up the plans for fourth grade wiki. We will again survive the Titanic. Very excited due to the 100th anniversary this year. First time to work with primary and secondary sources for fourth grade students. Every year I find something new to add. This year I purchased a music recording of the playlist for the RMS Titanic band. We listen to it while we do our research.

Students may choose their project. Usually they want to describe how a fictional character they have created survived the night to remember. Or they may create a slide show describing the ship.

Fifth grade right now is completing thier wiki assignment: researching and writing about stories. The wiki is called "Once upon a Story..."

Has anyone noticed that alot of media is revisiting fairy tales?