Constructing Food Webs

In science today students used a Blendspace packed with helpful internet links for researching how to build a food web.  Our learning experiences recently have taught us that a food chain or web shows the flow of energy through an ecosystem.  We used our knowledge from these experiences and information from our Blendspace to construct our own food webs.  We even labeled our food webs with the ecosystems vocabulary we have been learning:  herbivore, carnivore, omnivore, producer, and consumer.

Gee's Bend @ Warren Wilson

Today we visited Warren Wilson College in Black Mountain. We were excited to see the Gee's Bend Quilt exhibit. We've been learning about the art, history, geography, and math of Gee's Bend and quilt-making. Our college visit today included time to explore the museum exhibit, a campus tour, time at the farm, and weaving with the fiber-works crew. We enjoyed our visit and learned so much about Gee's Bend and college life.

Students as Teachers!

In our classroom, I, Mrs. Brown, am just a facilitator.  I provide students with opportunities to learn, and they work to solve problems, complete projects, research, and develop theories.  These photos are examples of how the students take over my class!  I am so proud of what they accomplish!

Respiratory and Digestive Systems

In Science this week we have been learning about the Respiratory and Digestive Systems.  Check out these investigations!

DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
Kenyi and Violeta use apples to discover how our mouths aid digestion.

RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
Zach and Yancey investigate how oxygen and carbon dioxide are brought into and out of the body.

SMART Response Remotes

Image Source

We have been using SMART Response Remotes in our class this week.  These remotes give us an opportunity to have 100% participation during our lessons.  The remotes work like a phone.  Students enter a class ID number, and then answer questions that are relevant to our lesson.  They can answer multiple choice, true/false, opinion, and short answer questions (which they sort of "text" in).  Their responses are recorded and I, the teacher, can see the data collected about each student's understanding.  They have increased our participation and engagement throughout the day!

Exploring Regions of the US with Architecture

In Social Studies, we have been studying the regions of the US by exploring architecture in each region.  We have learned about architects and their projects, and about the human and physical characteristics of each region.  As the STEM magnet class, we enjoyed seeing how architects are engineers and how art integrates with architecture.  In these photos, we were taking a gallery walk around the classroom to identify the characteristics of different buildings and which US region we felt that can be found in.

Engineering Models of a Knee Joint

 In Science this quarter, we have been studying the Human Body System.  Our focus this week was the skeletal and muscular systems.  We researched each body system, discussed our understanding and misconceptions, and developed diagrams.  In order to determine how the skeltal and muscular systems work together, we collaborated with our teams to engineer models of the knee joint.  The knee joints that we engineered showed how the systems work together to provide protection, support, and movement.  We are body systems experts!  Perhaps some of us will continue to become experts and pursue a job in the medical field.  We are preparing for our bright futures every day in Room 601!

Star-Spangled Banner

This week we've been studying the Star-Spangled Banner because this week marks the 200th Anniversary.  We learned a lot in class through researching, but we were lucky to have an expert come and speak to us to enhance our knowledge and understanding of the Star-Spangled Banner.  Mrs. Barbara Poole, the band director at Flat Rock Middle School, has participated in some highly-revered professional development on the subject.  She visited today and we enjoyed learning more details about the flag, the song, and their origins.

Apple Engineering Camp

For Apple Engineering Camp this week students were challenged to engineer a proposal for an orchard.  Students developed a speech/presentation, as well as a map, and a budget for building their orchard.  This project integrated many subjects including science, math, social studies, art, technology, and language.

Anthony, Yahir, and Zuki present their apple orchard proposal to the class.

Making Connections in Science: Legos, Cells, and Organisms

Today, we explored cells and organisms by connecting our knowledge to Legos.  After all, cells are the "building blocks" of all living things.  This connection helped us to see that all organisms are all similar because they are all made up of a cell or cells.  These scientists learned a lot today!

Engineering Challenge

We did an engineering project today to help us build our teamwork skills and get our minds thinking ctitically. We used the Engineering Design Process to build structures using mini-marshmallows and toothpicks. The structure had to be at least one toothpick tall. The team's structure that held the most weight won a prize.

We had so much fun!

First Day of School 2014

We had a great first day back today!  Students practiced procedures, organized materials, learned our new school song, set-up our interactive math notebooks, and conducted a science experiment.  Check out the post (link below) on our student page about our science experiment today.

http://believingisoursuperpower.blogspot.com/2014/08/first-day-science-experiment.html

Teacher Page

I have added a teacher page to my blog.  You can access it in the banner at the top of this page.  I love to network and collaborate with teachers around the world.  The teacher page will allow me to share information and ideas related to education with other teachers.  I look forward to connecting!

Students Page

This blog, Brown's Believers, will continue to be used to communicate what is happening in our class to the community.

Our student blog, Believing is Our Superpower, will be used to house important information for our students and their parents including important and upcoming dates; recommended websites, apps, books, and activities; and resources for use in our class.

Continue to check the blog that most interests you.

If you are a teacher, be sure to check out my teacher page which is coming soon.

The Student Page link can be found in the banner at the top of this page.

 Students, be sure to click there to find information we use in class.  Thanks!

2014-2015

I can now announce that I will be teaching 5th grade this year at Dana!  I am excited to work with these 5th graders and prepare them for middle school and life after.  We will be piloting a STEM magnet in my classroom.  We will explore fun and challenging science and math concepts while covering the 5th grade Common Core and Essential Standards.  In a collaborative environment, we will become expert scientists and mathematicians by conducting hands-on investigations, asking questions, engineering solutions to real-world problems, analyzing data, drawing conclusions, and communicating our findings.  We will use many resources, including technology, to enhance our research and creativity.
I look forward to the year ahead!

ISTE 2014

This week I had the privilege of attending the annual conference of the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE 2014).  It was held in Atlanta, Georgia at the Georgia World Congress Center.  I learned a lot about encouraging students to be innovators, critical thinkers, and scientists. I also got to try out new websites, apps, and technologies.  I am excited to use what I learned next year in my classroom!

Have a Great Summer!

I hope my students and I all have a safe, relaxing, and fun summer.  I can't wait to come back in August and here all about the great reading everyone will get to do over the break.  Please remember to practice your mulitplication facts, too!  Have fun!

Love,

3rd Grade Fraction Jeopardy Review Game

Click the links below to play:

• http://www.superteachertools.com/jeopardy/usergames/Feb201005/game1265248884.php
• https://jeopardylabs.com/play/fractions-for-3rd-grade
• juliazanglcolby.wikispaces.com/file/view/fractionjeopardy.ppt

Time Periods in History

We will be exploring time periods in history by investigating inventions and how they have changed over time.  To get started, check out this Blendspace of the Evolution of Inventions.

The Blendspace icon below will connect you to many links for students to use to research the inventions they are developing their projects about.

Radio

• http://inventors.about.com/od/rstartinventions/a/radio.htm
• http://transition.fcc.gov/omd/history/radio/documents/short_history.pdf
• http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/rescue/sfeature/radio.html
• http://earlyradiohistory.us/

Airplanes

• History of the Airplane
• Airplane Timeline
• History of Aviation

Cameras

• History of the Camera Infographic
• Camera Timeline
• The History of Photography
• The History of Photography Timeline

Telephone

• From Phones to Text Messages
• The History of the Telephone
• Telephone History:  1876-1900
• 130 Years of Telephone History
• Telephone Timeline
• Telephone Timeline

Wheel/Tire

• Evolution of the Wheel Infographic
• History of the Wheel
• Timeline of the Wheel
• The Wheel Timeline

Car

• Evolution of the Car Timeline
• 127 Years of Modern Automobile Innovation
• The Evolution of the Automobile SlideShare
• The Evolution of Cars Timeline
• Infographic: Evolution of the Car Industry
• Evolution of the Car

Computer

• Computer History
• Computer History Timeline
• Evolution of the Computer
• History of the Computer
• Evolution of the Computer
• Evolution of Computers

Toys

• 100 All Time Greatest Toys
• Evolution of Toys Timeline
• Vintage Toys
• Evolution of Christmas Toy Sales
• History of Toys
• Timeline of Toys
• History of Toys and Games

Stove/Oven

• History of the Oven
• History of Cooking Appliances
• History of the Kitchen Stove
• History of Stoves and Ovens
• Antique Stoves
• History of Gas and Electric Stoves

Motorcycle

• Smithsonian: America on the Move
• History of the Motorcycle:  Timeline
• Freedom, Speed, and Passion:  A History of the Motorcycle
• World's First Motorcycle
• Motorcycling Timeline
• The History and Future of Motorcycles
• The Invention of the Motorcycle: Timeline