Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Kindergarten Research- Minnesota Animals

Minnesota Projects
Albert
Mohamed
Showalter
Tyrer
Vang

This past month Brimhall Kindergarteners learned about reading and writing non-fiction. In library, we first practiced reading informational texts and finding the answer to three questions about animals:
  1. What does my animal look like?
  2. What does my animal eat?
  3. Where does my animal live?
Students used captions and photos to help find the answer to these questions about different animals.

The next week, students came to the library and learned about note taking.  We first listened to information about our animals using Pebble Go! (My very favorite resource for informational reading in the primary grades). Students then used books to read the pictures and take notes as I modeled to them each different topic.

Kindergarten teachers and teaching assistants and I were all on had to work with students as they learned and researched their Minnesota Animal.

In the classroom, teachers used the information the students gathered to write reports. This was a great effort on collaboration.

During library the next week, we used the iPads and the Little Bird Tales  app to draw our animals. We took photos of the students final reports using the iPad, and then recorded their voices reading their text. I just listened to my daughter's from last year, and had a little moment with how much she has grown in one year. There is something magical about hearing your child's voice reading their writing.

Lastly, after a few technical difficulties-- I uploaded all the projects to the web. Here are our projects. All of us are extremely proud of the work our kiddos did!

Albert
Mohamed
Showalter
Tyrer
Vang

We can't wait for parents to view them at the Minnesota Program later this week!

Wednesday, April 23, 2014

2nd Grade Research

2nd Graders are awesome at research. Students used all of their research skills they have learned this year to research animals from around the world.

We have practiced summarizing, using captions, online sources and books. Students then used the computer to draw their animal.

Students started by thinking about what they wanted to learn about animals, then they used Pebble Go to research and books. After their research was complete, classroom teachers worked with students to summarize and write paragraphs. They have more information hanging up near their rooms. Students picked one of their paragraphs to type and publish online.

I used a variety of presentation tools to publish (I am trying to learn some new skills). Click on class name to link to completed project.

Anderson
Kath
Nelson
Olson
Rowan/Hinderer

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Scholastic Book Fair

The Brimhall Book Fair is coming next week.

See our selection of books and/or order online. Click on the image below to see our online fair.
(Books will be delivered to school)

http://bookfairs.scholastic.com/homepage/brimhallelemsch

Monday, April 7, 2014

6th Grade Research Projects

Over the past month, 6th grade students used the research skills we have learned this year to research groups on Minnesota Native Americans.

I collaborated with their teacher to teach students how to make iMovies, find license free photographs and create a GLOG (an online poster using multimedia). Students used Glogster EDU to create projects incorporating their writing skills, images, and movies.

See their completed projects below:



1.Ailen (6T)25.Annette (6K)49.Amina (6R)
2.Paulos (6T)26.Ella (6K)50.christine (6R)
3.Stellar (6T)27.Laurie (6K)51.Gweneth (6R)
4.Sungyoon (6T)28.Brianna (6K)52.Tyler (6R)
5.Fahmida (6T)29.Hannah (6K)53.Netra (6R)
6.Pratibha (6T)30.Elite (6K)54.Sandy (6R)
7.Daniel (6T)31.Abygail (6K)55.Lauren (6R)
8.Nick (6T)32.Zohar6K56.David (6R)
9.Joe (6T)33.Jas (6K57.David (6R)
10.Dikshya (6T)34.Mackenzie (6K)58.Marian (6R)
11.Mary( 6T)35.Taliyah (6K)59.Gabriel (6R)
12.Louie (6T)36.Noah (6K)60.Sam k 6R
13.Yash( 6T)37.Hunter (6k)61.gabriel (6r)
14.Fardowsa (6T)38.Vanessa 6K62.Hannah (6R)
15.Ethan (6T)39.Ali (6K)63.Abygail (6K)
16.Noa (6T)40.Soheun (6R)64.Mariana L (6R)
17.Arzab (6t)41.Aran (6R)65.Rachel (6K)
18.Hailey (6T)42.Sam N (6R)66.Daniel (6K)
19.Gus (6T)43.Ricardo (6r)67.Nicholas (6K)
20.Otto( 6T)44.Tara (6R)68.AJ (6K)
21.Ali (6T)45.Mei Bryn (6R)69.Margaret (6K)
22.Nadia (6T)46.MIshell (6R)70.Sam (6K)
23.Tait (6K)47.Gabi (6R)71.Arzab (6t)
24.Nhu (6K)48.Amalia (6R)