We started out day by finishing our Weighty Word-Nonconformist.  

Unit Study:
We had a blast learning to do Loops today, by starting with a "Dance" made of moves we learned and repeated.  Then the kids applied this new skill to their tasks on Lesson 5 & 6 on Code.org, Course 2.

Algebraic Thinking:
We continued our algebraic thinking with a new Legal Move.  The kids did very well with this new strategy to help us solve the equations.

Stations:
We stretched our convergent thinking with a Perplexor logic puzzle and an analogy task.  The kids used their divergent thinking to create a Visual Representation of our new Weighty Word, Ostracize.  I'm excited to see the finished products because their image choices were exceptional!  We also used our evaluative thinking to learn a new game, "The Great Snowball Battle".  Each week a small group learns to play the game.  As soon as we work through the entire class, we can include the game as a choice during Stations.

Affective Skills:
We watched a sweet video of the book, The Boy Who was Raised by Librarians. The kids read an article about an ambitious, intelligent former Cobb County student and how he focused his interest and Love of Learning.  The kids followed up with an "I Wonder" chart, where the kids filled in ideas about what they wondered.  The kids will be choosing one of these topics to research and do a mini project to present on March 12th.

We also continued our Mindfulness Practice with "Kick Logic Back Into Gear".  

HW: I Wonder Project

Until next time,
​Dr. Kraeger

We started with catching up on missing work and learning some new Rubik's games.

Unit Study:
We jumped into "Artist Sequence" on Code.org.  Some didn't have time to finish, so they are welcome to work more on it at home anytime!  We followed that with Mission 2: "Robot Speaks".  The kids were able to program their robots to record and playback a unique message during a trip.  They did a GREAT job with this.  We had some hilarious messages!

Divergent Thinking:
We combined Math and Creativity to make our Math Mosaics.  Check out our interpretations of "Kind" in the hall by our rooms.  It fit perfectly with our Kindness Week!  We also finished up our Weighty Word from last week, "Nonconformity".  With a review of steps and strategies in creating Visual Vocabulary, we had quite a bit of success on this task.  

Algebraic Thinking:
We split into flexible groups for more work on "Legal Moves" from Hands On Equations Lesson 3.  Some of the kids were totally ready to move on, some need a bit more support on their foundational algebra skills.  We'll continue this in our next class.  

Convergent Thinking:
Some of the kids learned a new game, "The Great Snowball Battle".  It's a strategy game that was created by a friend of mine.  The small group that tried it really liked it.  I'll be introducing it to a different group of kids each time until they all know how to play it.

Novel Study:
We read a few chapters in our book, learning that Sammy's sister has Severe Combined Immunodeficiency.  It's interesting to hear the kids' perspectives on how character traits and mindset can make a difference in how people live.  

No Homework-Enjoy the Break!
​Dr. Kraeger

We started our day with some catch-ups for our Weighty Word vocabulary and other missing classwork.

Unit Study:
We learned about how to create a "Maze Sequence"  using Code.org.  The kids did a great job learning the basics of Jr. Scratch coding.  Then, we completed Mission 1 with our robots.  The kids were able to make their robots move in a triangular path.  

Novel Study:
We enjoyed a few chapters in our book, with a very funny section about the Football Battle with the robots.  For fun, we watched a short BattleBots clip.  The kids loved seeing which robot would win!
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Stations:
We worked our convergent thinking skills with some Perplexor puzzles and an analogy task.  Then we learned our new Weighty Word-Nonconformity.  The kids used Brittanica Image Quest to find pictures illustrating the word.  

Algebraic Thinking:
We learned about the "Legal Move" in our Hands On Equations lesson.  You might remember this as "What you do to one side of the equation, you have to do to the other" from your algebra days.  This is a pretty big concept so we'll spend a couple more weeks helping the kids to really master it before we move on.  

Affective Skills:
We learned more about inventive thinking and about "Keep Moving Forward".  This is about using our curiosity and inventive thinking to keep trying, even in the face of a failure.  The kids each created a new object out of an empty toilet paper roll.  Their ideas were VERY clever and creative!

We also continued our Mindfulness Practice with a short video about "Why do Humans Experience Anxiety?"  The kids seemed to take in the message with understanding of how this might play out in their lives.

HW:  Edmodo Question (New kids can stop by to get signed up for Edmodo or wait until next Tuesday, and we'll get them set in the morning.)

Until next time,
Dr. Kraeger