Tuesday, October 23, 2012



Students created a Magazine Cover featuring the toy they have been researching.  Students used the website www.bighugelabs.com to create the project.  Students were given an ID and password in class today.  We taped the information inside the back cover of the students' assignment planners.  Some students were able to finish, but others need to make a few adjustments.

 


I've attached the rubric that will be used in grading the Magazine Cover.  Hopefully this will help you see how students will be earning the points.  Below is an example of one I shared in class.
Students will have until Friday, October 26th to complete the Magazine Cover.  Students will need to use their study hall time or use the library from 7:45-8:15.  Students can work on the cover at home if they wish.

Thursday, October 18, 2012

Research of Toys

We have researched the history of the following toys-

Silly Putty
Mr. Potato Head
Slinky
Super Ball
Legos
Bicycles
Hula Hoops
Play-doh
Toy Trains

The students do not need to do further research unless they would like to.  The information we used from the internet came from http://www.ideafinder.com/history/category/toys.htm

 Students (and parents) might be interested to see the commericals for the toys.

TOYS!!!

Finally!  We have found a topic kids love to research. 

Students will research and write a report about a toy.  Students will give the history of the toy including who invented it, when it was invented and how the invention came to be.  Students will also write a description of the toy focusing on the physical characteristics.  Students will also get a chance to PLAY with the toy.  This step in the research process is VERY important.  Students will also include in their paper how to play with the toy. 

Students will also create a Magazine Cover to go with their report.  The Magazine Cover will be created in the library using the computer.  Our class will go to the library on Tuesday, October 23.  If a student is absent, it will be his/her responsibility to go to the library during study hall or before school to complete the Magazine Cover.  The library is open from 7:45-8:15 every day.

Students will present their reports on Friday, November 2nd.  However, the Report and Magazine Cover will be due Monday, October 29.  Students will not read the report for the presentation.  For the presentation, students will need to summarize their report on note cards.  Students will also share the Magazine Cover as part of their presentation.

The following rubrics will be used to grade the project:


 




 

Friday, October 5, 2012

This week in class, we have looked at prefixes, base words, and suffixes.  We've located words with prefixes and/or suffixes in the book Leonardo: Beautiful Dreamer.  We have also created our own words with our knowledge of word parts.  One of my personal favorites was INVENTOLOGY, which we decided was the study of inventions.  Today we practiced INVENTOLOGY, as we took notes on important inventions and how they have changed society.  We will continue taking notes next week.  Eventually, students will choose which invention they believe is the most important and will write a paragraph explaining their choice. 

Next week we will continue our study of Leonardo da Vinci.  We will take notes on Text Features and determine how text features make nonfiction easier to understand.  I have attached the PowerPoint we will use.  Students will hunt for examples of text features using the book Amazing Leonardo da Vinci, Inventions You Can Build Yourself.  Students will get a chance to create polyhedra (three dimensional polygons) using marshmallows and toothpicks.  Students will use their knowledge of text features to create an octahedron, an icosahedron, and a rhombicuboctahedron. 

If you ordered from the book order, your items should arrive early next week.  I will send home October's book order on Friday. 

 
 
 
Have a Great Weekend!!!