It was super to have a full day with the kids this week!  We were able to do so many exciting activities!

We started off with our book to finish the chapter about the Balloon Merry-Go-Round.  Hmm...the kids found a little bit of foreshadowing.  Ask about that! At the end of the day, we read most of chapter 9, which was about the Balloon Life Raft.  The kids are picking up all sorts of literary techniques and humor in this book!  Fantastic higher level thinking skills here!  We didn't get to the Kahoot, so we'll jump right into that next week--first thing!

Stations:
We worked hard on both our convergent thinking skills, with the choice of a grid or Perplexor logic puzzle, and our divergent thinking skills with a Halloween SCAMPER.  Their ideas were incredibly creative!  Check them out by our classroom.

Algebraic Thinking Skills:
We tackled more word problems today, strengthening those algebraic skills and critical thinking skills.  Good job on the hard work today!

Affective Skills:
We continued our mindfulness practice with some information about how to reduce our worries: Kick Logic Back Into Gear.

Unit Study:
We had a blast watching a fun video about creating a "Bunny Copter" from PBS Kids "Cyberchase-Fairy Borg Father".  Then the kids tried to make their own Bunny Copters.  The had a blast testing them out with different modifications each time.  Check out the photos of the fun below! 

HW:  Edmodo-Flipgrid
Until next time,
​Dr. Kraeger

  

We hit the ground running today with a Restaurant Creation period.  The kids did a good job!  Check out the photos below.

Later we worked on math problem-solving using a variety of strategies.  

We ended our day with reading from our novel, 21 Balloons.  The kids really enjoyed hearing about all the AMAZING inventions in the houses of Krakatoa!  We played a short game of Kahoot with our reading today to test our critical thinking skills.
 
HW:  Edmodo
Until next time,
​Dr. Kraeger

 We started off our Target day with a super chapter of our book.  We heard all about the different restaurants and worked on designing our restaurants to build next week.  At the end of the semester, we may have a "Restaurant Celebration" and have the kids bring in a snack to share from their restaurant.

Stations:
We stretched our convergent thinking with a Perplexor and more analogies.  It's interesting how the kids aren't familiar with some common pairs, as language changes (Ex. Sugar and Spice).  We also stretched our divergent thinking skills with an October F2OE to build our creativity!

Algebraic Thinking:
We worked on word problems this week to apply the algebraic skills we've been learning.  This is a bit of a mindshift because it requires the application of math skills learned.  It's important that the kids learn to show their work at this point, since that is the expectation in middle school algebra work.  

Affective:
We practiced our mindfulness by learning about how to "Calm Down the Amygdala" to take charge of our mental state.  The kids enjoyed looking at the strategies that they already know and how these can be helpful.

We closed our day with a fun OKGo video to introduce chapter 7 of our book.  Then, the kids heard about all the amazing inventions and machines in Mr. M's Marvelous house.  

HW: Edmodo

Until next time,
​Dr. Kraeger

It was a very exciting day in Target this week!  The kids had so much fun discovering all sorts of things about math and science!  We stretched our convergent thinking skills with a Versatiles activity to start our day.

Stations:
We stretched our creativity by using divergent thinking to transform hot-air balloons.  The kids are so clever!  You have to check these out by our classroom.  We found out all about the Wright Brothers and their amazing invention of the first airplane.  The kids used their critical thinking skills to infer, analyze, and interpret information from the reading and answer questions.  Finally, the kids learned about the physics of the Bernoulli Effect with a short video and a very cool demonstration with ping-pong balls and a hairdryer.  Check out the photos below!

Algebraic Thinking:
Mrs. Arduino and Mrs. Schoonover joined us for math this week.  Mrs. Arduino is becoming an algebra whiz thanks to the great algebraic thinking skills our kids shared with her.  It is fantastic how well the kids can explain their learning and actually teach someone how to solve the equations.  Way to go kids!

Affective:
We practiced mindfulness with a video, "Fear vs. Anxiety".  This helps the kids learn the difference between real fear and how our bodies react to anxiety.  Then we discussed the strategies we've learned that can help with anxiety.   

Novel Study:
We read more of our novel, Twenty-One Balloons. We learned how the island of Krakatoa came to be inhabited, and why Professor Sherman will have to remain a guest of Krakatoa FOREVER!  We also learned about their unique form of government, The Restaurant Government.  

Finally, we participated in another Bernoulli demonstration--outside!  Mrs. Lobello showed how the leaf blower creates a column of air that traps a ball in it, even when the blower is titled at an angle.  We also had a blast testing the leaf blower on a partial roll of toilet paper.  Really FUN stuff!

HW: Edmodo
Until next time,
​Dr. Kraeger