We had a great last class for the semester!  Our day started with a Creative Problem Solving Activity involving the kids designing and building a toy of the future.  After they created the toy, the kids developed and shared commercials to advertise their toys.

The kids followed that up by writing stories about their toy creations.  Can't wait to read the creative ideas!  They also worked on a festive logic puzzle.

Our math problem solving was an area and perimeter task involving a sweater design for Mrs. Lobello's dog, Mocha.  Their was much debate about the correct procedure and final solution!

Our day ended with another video of our series on Growth Mindset, Big Ideas #5.  The kids learned about taking things a little bit at a time, when trying something new or difficult.  They created role plays to demonstrate scenarios illustrating this strategy.

HW:  None!  

Enjoy the Holiday Break!
​Dr. Kraeger 

We started our day with Stations to extend our Convergent and Divergent thinking skills with a choice of Logic Puzzles and a SCAMPER (Creative thinking activity).  Stop by and see these out by our classroom, if you've in the building next week!  They are fantastic--so clever!

That was followed by a fun Candy Cane Webquest to test our research skills!  After warming up with those activities, the kids tackled "CSI Math Mysteries: Who Stole Santa's Sleigh?".  They had a great time using multiplication, equivalent fractions, and adding decimals to determine which suspect committed the crime.  

Finally, we explored how stimulation can actually grow neurons to change our brains!  We watched another of our "Big Ideas" videos and then read an article about the science of neural stimulation and growth.  The kids will be trying something new this week to "Grow Their Brains"!

HW:  Edmodo-What did you try this week?  How did it go?

Until next time,
​Dr. Kraeger 

It was WONDERFUL to see our 4th Graders today! :)  We've missed them with testing!

We started our day with creation of either a new chapter or a new ending to our novel, 21 Balloons.  Most of the kids finished and shared their stories today.  They were entertaining, creative, and loads of fun to listen to!  The others will finish their stories to share next week.

We stretched our convergent thinking skills with a logic puzzle and a Versatiles activity.  The kids whipped right through the Versatiles activity, so it is now in the 3rd Grade File--to easy for these Smarties!  The kids also used their divergent thinking skills to transform a Hot Air Balloon.  Take a look at these outside our classroom--SO clever!

Later, we used mathematical thinking and problem-solving strategies to solve a variety of math problems.  The kids enjoy the challenge and the chance to work on many types of problems.  

We explored a bit more on Growth Mindset with a short video about "The Power of Yet".  The kids did a fantastic job of thinking of things they can't do "YET", but hope to do someday.  They combined their ideas to create a very cool poster for our bulletin board.

Finally, we ended the day with "Link Winks", verbal puzzles with rhyming answers.  It's an interesting way to stretch their logical, verbal, and musical/rhythmic abilities all at once.  They LOVE these!

HW:  Edmodo Question

Until next time,
Dr. Kraeger