We have been so busy in the Learning Commons the past few weeks! This group of 4th graders used materials to create a filter for water. The sandy water we put in came out crystal clear! This group of 4th graders worked together to create a robotic hand that would pick up different size items. My Claymation Cluster has been hard at work creating characters from clay and backdrops for their claymation movies. Filming will be complete soon and we can't wait to see their finished prodcuts! 2nd Graders had the chance to SKYPE with Jean Pennycook, a scientist in Antarctica who studies penguins! Classes will be coming in for the next several weeks for Christmas STEM challenge stations. These have been fun! The Hour of Code is the week of December 5-11. We participated this year using the code.org website and the Daisy Dinosaur app!
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Second and Third graders began a course in writing code through code.org today. This course is an easy way to introduce computer science to the students!
Mrs. French's 4th grade science classes have been learning about weather. As part of their unit they have discussed warm and cold fronts and what happens when two of these fronts meet. The students used food coloring, ice and water to simulate what happens when a warm and cold front meet. The warm front was represented by a drop or red (more pink/purple) food coloring on one side of a tub of water. A frozen ice cube dyed blue was dropped in on the other side of the tub. The cold water traveled across the bottom of the tub until it met up with the warm water on the other side. As this happened the students could see the "warm front" (red dye) being pushed up and over the blue. The results were really neat!
Pre-K joined us Monday and together we all explored our five senses using apples! Exploring the sense of smell by smelling apples, oranges and bananas. Using describing words to explain how an apple, orange and banana feel. How does an apple sound when you thump it? When you drop it? Using sight to describe how the fruits look. Finally getting to taste the apples and deciding which color apple tastes the best.
Kindergarteners got to experiment and play with Little Bits and Cubelets today in the Learning Commons. They experimented with circuits, building electronics, and robotics.
2nd Grade students in Ms. Parks' class visited the Learning Commons today and used the STEM design Process to solve problems with their group. They had to plan (draw out their ideas on paper). create (build a model of their design), test ( test their ideas to see if they work), and ask (analyze their results). Flash Flood: The first group had to construct a dam that would protect their village from flooding when a large rainstorm comes. After several modifications their dam worked! Bridge the Gap: Group two had to construct a bridge that would get their family of four from one side of a canyon to the other. This family of four made it safely across the canyon! Well Rescue: Group three had to use the materials given to rescue a teddy bear that had been dropped in a well.
Mrs. French's 4th Grade Science classes visited the Learning Commons for a STEM project last week! They were presented a problem and had to work through the Scientific Process to solve their problem. Sam (their gummy worm) was stranded on his capsized boat (plastic cup). His life preserver (Lifesaver gummy) was trapped underneath the boat. Using only 4 paper clips, the students had to brainstorm a way to get the life preserver from underneath the boat and on to Sam. They could NOT touch any objects with their hands except the paperclips. The students worked so well together and Sam was saved!
YES!! We began the process last school year with a major weeding of our library collection. We looked at data from the last 7 years and began pulling books that have not been checked out to make room for newer, up to date literature. Once we completed weeding, the books were then rearranged and shelves were removed to create a more open flow to make room for adaptable furniture. Books in the nonfiction section have always been arranged according to the Dewey Decimal System. We found this to be a very difficult way for students to navigate the shelves to find the books they were interested in. We “Ditched Dewey” and arranged the nonfiction books according to their topic. We’ve seen tremendous increases in circulation of nonfiction books already! Chapter books were also rearranged slightly. All books in a series were placed in a certain section with their series name clearly marked. The students have already commented that the books they are most interested in are much easier to find. We have a plan in place for painting and colors have been chosen. We are also compiling a list of adaptable furniture that we hope to get through a grant. Students have already begun STEM activities and Makerspaces as well as activities done in collaboration with teachers and Learning Commons staff.
The main focus of our Learning Commons will always be to promote the love of reading. Students will still come in for story time, book check-out, Reading Counts tests, Book Fair, etc. In addition to this, we will be incorporating more STEM activities, Makerspaces, collaboration with teachers for large projects that will connect with the curriculum they are teaching in the classroom, etc. STEM activities will be geared toward science and engineering. Makerspaces will be opportunities to express creativity.
All Media Centers in Columbia County will be transitioning to the Learning Commons model over the next several years. This will be an ongoing process that will include remodeling the physical aspects of the Media Center, and the activities planned in collaboration with the classroom teachers. Traditional libraries in the past have been strictly used for book check out and return. Over the years, computers have been added to accommodate changes in technology and needs for more research based projects. Our goal is to have a more flexible space with resources that are well-selected, furniture that is adaptable to the needs of students and teachers in large and small groups, current technology, and a knowledgeable staff all in one space where we can prepare students to be successful in the future. We want our space to be conducive to collaboration amongst students and teachers. A Learning Commons provides all of the traditional library services, while also offering other instructional experiences from other curriculum the students are learning in the classroom.
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