This week I have been working in Summer School, which has been a great experience. This year I'm working with kindergarten through second grade students. After working with 4th grade this year it has been a surprising and fun experience. I have to say that the week is going really well -- with the exception of one child's injured hand because she tripped on her flip-flops. Other than that it has been a dream.
Since I'm working with different age and ability groups I'm doing a combination of literacy centers/small groups and whole group activities.
Each child in my group needed more work with digraphs, sight words, and fluency, so the reading activities have all been designed to target those things. We've also worked on sequencing.
Since I'm working with different age and ability groups I'm doing a combination of literacy centers/small groups and whole group activities.
Each child in my group needed more work with digraphs, sight words, and fluency, so the reading activities have all been designed to target those things. We've also worked on sequencing.
During math block we have been involved in a multi-day project with a STEM focus. Wanting to make this time interesting and hands-on I talked to my friend and colleague, Mrs. STEM Coordinator, and shared my desire for a cheap STEM activity that worked with multiple ages. She suggested aluminum foil boats which the students could design. This activity has been perfect for Summer School. We started by discussing measurement and perimeter. I also brought in estimating. We estimated the width and perimeter of the foil that would be used to design the boat. Then we actually measured. All of the students were actually pretty close to their estimates.
Our follow-up was a planning session in which the students held their three inch foil square, imagined how they would create their boat out of it, and then drew their design. I'm sure an older student's design could be more elaborate, but I thought our plans were good for primary students. I was impressed by the conversations that occurred as they drew.
Our follow-up was a planning session in which the students held their three inch foil square, imagined how they would create their boat out of it, and then drew their design. I'm sure an older student's design could be more elaborate, but I thought our plans were good for primary students. I was impressed by the conversations that occurred as they drew.
The following day the students made and tested their boats -- and in a few cases, then remade the boats. Most of the boats floated initially, but once we placed Bingo markers in them they began to sink. This was a great learning experience for the students.
Tomorrow we will race our boats! I am probably as excited as the students. There will be prizes for the winners, prizes for the sleekest design, prizes for the shortest and longest vessel, etc. Basically everyone will go home with a cheap trinket. I can't wait to share with you how this goes. :)
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