1st Grade
Exploration
Paper Sculptures
In this unit, students discovered what they liked and did not like by creating a three-dimensional paper sculpture representation.
Design: Paper Sculptures
Presentation Day
2nd Grade
Left vs Right Brain
Students studied the brain and wrote a research report on their learning. Students created a brain replica. Reports and brain replicas are on display in the library.
Brain Models
Brain Art
3rd Grade
Divergent Thinking
We read, "What do you see?" Students then went on a scavenger hunt around the room looking for simple everyday objects and designed new objects.
What do you See?
Divergent thinking
4th Grade
Split Face Portrait
Students used their strengths, gifts and passions to create a portrait of themselves. All students wrote a autobiography to share the story of their life.
Split Face Portrait
5th Grade
Mosaic Portrait
Students created a mosaic using Google Draw. Students then had to write a collaborative stair-step poem that included pieces of them.
Mosaic portraits
Stair step Peom
1st Grade
Exploration
DREAM SOMETHING BIG
In this unit, students finished their study of an Italian immigrant who spent his life building a national landmark; Watt's Towers.
Design: Build a replica of Watt's Towers
Watt's Tower Replicas
2nd Grade
Engineering
Caine's Arcade
We launched a brand new unit that will introduce us to entrepreneurship
and marketing. We are so excited to design and build our own arcade game for other students to come play.
Getting Started
Collaboration
3rd Grade
Critical Thinking
11th Hour Mystery
3rd grade is using their critical thinking skills to work through a mystery in teams. When teams finish they will create-design their own mystery.
looking for clues
Collaboration
4th Grade
Collaboration
Rube Goldberg
Students generated their own research questions to learn about Rube Goldberg this month. We are now in the planning stages of creating our own Rube machines.
research
planning
5th Grade
Innovation
Weslandia
Students generated questions about Ancient Civilizations. Then moved on to reading and learning about the Future of Civilization. We are now in the planning stages for our civilizations.
research
planning
Putting It All Together: Presentations
1st Grade
Exploration
DREAM SOMETHING BIG
In this unit, students will develop empathy, compassion, and focus on the skill of perservance. Students will study the true story of an Italian immigrant who spent his life building a national landmark; Watt's Towers.
Research: Where is Italy? Where is California? landform vs water
Studying Sam Rodia
(Italian Immigrant)
2nd Grade
Engineering
Students were challenged to think like an engineer. All students brought in recycled products. Then students designed a plan with a partner for a car made out of recycled materials. Finally, students were given an opportunity to race their cars against one another.
Thinking Like an Engineer
RACE DAY
3rd Grade
Critical Thinking
Popcorn challenge! This month 3rd graders designed posters to share their research on the history of popcorn. Each student was giving an opportunity to present to an adult and a peer.
Presenting
Presenting
4th Grade
Autobiography Map Presentation
Students learned about cartographers. Each 4th grader presented their map with a story of their life to their peers.
PResenting Maps
Presenting Stories
5th Grade
Innovation
Students created a strength collage with their mosaics. Then each student completed a strength assessment. After completing the assessment, students had to write an autobiography telling us how they use their strengths in their life. Then each student had an opportunity to present to their peers.
PRESENTING Strengths
Presenting Mosaics
NOVEMBER Innovation Lab
Engineering: Our Table
Innovation: Leaf Creature
Coding: Life Cycle of a Turkey
Brain Exercises: Tinker Toys
Create: Lego Wall
Mrs. Jone's CLASS
Mr. Espinoza's Class
Mrs. William's Class
Mrs. johnson's Class
OCTOBER Innovation Lab
Engineering: Pumpkin Transporter
Innovation: Design a Web
Coding: Code Mice to the Haunted House
Brain Exercises: Speed Builds
Create: Marble Maze
Mrs. Bailey's CLASS
Mrs. Johnson's Class
Mrs. Nolan's Class
Mrs. rice's Class
How can I use my Strengths, Gifts, and Talents?
1st Grade
Exploration
Students were challenged to think like a sculptur and create a paper sculpture that represented thier passions, likes, and dislikes.
Tinkering
Sculpturs learning the process of tinkering with paper.
Sculptures
2nd Grade
Brain Anatomy
Students were challenged to think like a neurologist. Students partiicpated in brain research to learn more about the amazing human brain. The final challenge was to build a model of a brain and identify the left and right brain strengths.
BRAIN Building
BRAIN MODEL
Students labeled 4 of the 6 parts of the brain.
3rd Grade
Critical Thinking
Popcorn challenge! This month students are thinking like an archaeologist as they work together to transport popcorn kernels out of a cave, that just happened to be hundreds of years old. Students will use their estimation skills in order to determine what shape and size they need to build a popcorn container.
Planning
Students are presenting designs to their groups. Then each group has to pick the design they will build.
TESTING
After planning and picking a design students were able to build and test out their popcorn containers.
4th Grade
Autobiography Maps
Students learned about cartographers. Then students were challenged to think like a cartographer as they traveled with a group of friends around the world to gathered information about their passions, interests, gifts and talents.
Collaborating
Autobiography Maps
5th Grade
Mosaics
Students researched and compared the history of spanish, roman and moden day mosaics. Then students were challenged to create a self portrait mosaic and write an autobiography about their gifts, talents, and strengths.
MOSAIC DESIGNING
SELF PORTRAITS
September Innovation Lab
Engineering: My Most Magnificent Thing
Innovation: Design a Tower
Coding: Hex Bug Maze
Brain Exercises: Speed Builds
Create: Lego Wall
September Innovation Lab
Mrs. Nolans's Class
September Innovation Lab
Miss Hutson's Class
September Innovation Lab
Mrs. Kiger's Class
How well do I know myself and others?
1st Grade
Introductions/Social Contract
Developing Sportsmanship: Get to Know You Jenga
Students practice good sportsmanship while playing games that will help them better understand their strengths and abilities in the learning and growing process. Students share how they worked and played with peers to establish relationship skills that will assist in fostering connections among students and the GT community.
Likes vs Dislikes
Tinkering with paper
2nd GRADE
Introductions/Social Contract
Questioning and Problem-Solving Games
Students practice good sportsmanship while playing games that will help them better understand their strengths and abilities in the learning and growing process. The student holding the place/card gives two buzz words, while the group must ask yes or no questions to guess the place around town. Students must
Guess in 10
Places around town
3rd grade
Introductions/
Divergent Thinking Activity-What Do You See?
Students were given an opportunity to explore classroom resources. Students picked 6 different items to create an image.
What do you see?
It's Raining,
It's pourting
4th Grade
Introductions/Reviewing Sportsmanship:
Getting To Know You-Skittles
Students welcomed new friends to our program this week. We worked on our collaboration skills by asking questions and sharing our experiences.
Skittles Galore
Collaboration
5th GRADE
Introductions/
Divergent Thinking Activity-What Do You See?/
Overexcitabilities
Students used their divergent thinking to complete in 4 rounds of the paper roll challenge. Round 4, each student has to tear a piece of paper off the roll and pass the roll to the next person. Students must design an object with their torn piece of paper. Students were not allowed to talk but they could imitate with noises.
Round 4
Round 4
AUGUST
Classroom Stage
I am so excited about this new addition to our room. We will be practicing presentations here!
AUGUST
Innovation Lab
One Friday a month my room will be open to the entire school for Innovation Lab. Thank you to the LHISD Education Foundation for helping to make this possible.