INFORMATION

Twitter

I have a Twitter account to post pictures and videos of my HP classes.  If you would like to follow me on Twitter my Twitter account is KMHighPotential.  This is a secure account, so I will need to accept you before you can view my account.  I’m excited to continue to use this social networking tool to communicate more about the intriguing and exciting lessons that we are working on in class.

Exploration Time

All the High-Potential students will have the opportunity to take part in Exploration Time once a week.  During Exploration Time, they will explore research questions based on a specific topic for their Passion Project.  If you are interested in learning more about Exploration Time you can go to www.geniushour.com .

 Wonderopolis

www.wonderopolis.org

Yesterday, my students explored www.wonderopolois.org for their Genius Hour time.  Wonderopolis was created by the National Center for Families Learning (NCFL).  Every day they post a wonder of the day question to research.  The features on this website include; wonder of the day, explore wonders, what are you wondering, vote for wonders, educator sandbox, and camp wonderopolis.

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1st Grade Reading

Enchanted Castle

by Interact Learning Through Experience

In Brief:

The first graders finally made it to the Enchanted Castle this week!  Here are the rest of the fairy tales that we’ve read; Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Jack and the Beanstalk, and King Midas and the Golden Touch. They have also continued to complete their “Travel Tickets.”  Their “Travel Tickets” require them to write about the main idea, setting, main characters, problems, and finally the magic in the stories.  After they reached their destinations using their “Travel Tickets” they completed a destination activity.  

Destination Activities

River: Fairy Tale Puzzle-Hide the names of fairytale characters and settings in a hidden word puzzle.  Use the grid paper and fill every space with a letter.  Beneath your puzzle list the words hidden in your puzzle.  Exchange puzzles with your classmates.

Island:  It’s Magic-Use your imagination to create some magic in the classroom.  

• What might happen if an ordinary classroom object suddenly became magic?
• How would school be different with a magic pencil or a magic notebook?

Learning Targets:

I can recall fairy tale characters and settings to use in my own word search puzzle.

I can use my imagination to create a story about magic in the classroom.

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1st Grade Math

“Project M2: Using Everyday Measurements”

Measuring with the Meerkats

In Brief: 

The first graders designed seat belts that held an egg passenger in a crash test.  They used their centimeter rules and other materials to follow the requirements for their design.  Next week their designs will be crash tested; they’ll see whether their egg passenger stays in the seat or bounces out!

Learning Targets:

I can add and subtract measures.

I can measure objects using centimeters.

Vocabulary

• Half-inch-a length measure used in the U.S. customary system
• Inch-a length measure used in the U.S. customary system
• Centimeter-a length measure used in the metric system
• Circumference-the distance around a circle or a curved surface
• Length-linear attribute that can be measured.  Length is the distance between two points.
• Estimate-a range of values one believes includes the actual measurement.

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2nd Grade Reading

“Writer’s Toolbox”

By Nancy Loewen

In Brief:

The second graders have completed their Fairy Tales!!!  They were able to share them with each other and also with some other classrooms.  Be sure to ask them to share their fairy tales with you tonight!

Fairy Tale Writing Process Tools

Tool #1 Setting

Tool #2 Characters  

Tool #3 Plot

Tool #4 Dialogue  

Tool #5 Warnings

Tool #6 Magic

Tool #7 Greed

Tool #8 Tricks

Tool #9 Secret

Tool #10 Repetition

Tool #11  Mistakes

Tool #12  Problem-Solving

Tool #13 Pleasing End

Learning Targets:

I can identify the 13 important tools needed to write a great fairy tale.

I can write a fairy tale that includes the 13 fairy tale tools.

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2nd Grade Math

Project M3: “Digging for Data”

In Brief: 

The most recent lessons have focused on gathering, organizing, and representing data.  Data can be organized and represented in a numbers of ways.  Tables present data in columns and rows.  Understanding how to read, construct and analyze tables are important skills.  Once data sets are organized, it is important to describe them.  When we describe data sets, we consider what is typical about the set.  The median is one statistic that helps us determine what is typical.  The median is the middle value of a data set when the data points are placed in numerical order.  The median is not affected by very low or very high numbers in a data set.

Learning Targets:

I can organize data using a table.

I can explore the concept of typical or average as median and calculate the median of a data set.

I can explore the mathematical concept of rate.

I can conduct a simple experiment and gather data on rates.

Vocabulary

• Chart-a representation used to record data in an organized and systematic way.  The information may or may not be arranged in columns and rows.
• Data-information gathered to make a decision.
• Data analysis-summarizing data by finding patterns and drawing conclusions.
• Hypothesis-a statement about the prediction of the outcome of an event or experiment
• Research-an investigation that follows a specific process to answer a question or set of questions.
• Mean-the average of a set of numbers found by dividing the sum of the numbers by the number of addends.
• Median-the middle value in a data set when data are presented in numerical order (e.g., 1,1,3,5,6,8,9,)
• Rate-a comparison of two numbers where the units of measure differ

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3rd Grade Reading

“Titanic” By KIDS DISCOVER

In Brief:  

The third graders finished reading, “Dangerous Waters,” and the KIDS DISCOVER magazine on the Titanic!  On Wednesday, they started their Titanic Flip-Book Project.

Titanic Flip-Book Project

You will be creating a flip-book to share information about everything that you have learned about the Titanic!  You may use books, the internet, and magazines to find facts and pictures for your flip-book.  Each page must include at least four facts and an illustration.  Neatness and creativity counts!  You will also be graded on spelling, grammar, and punctuation, so work carefully!  The flip-book will be broken into the following sections:

Page 1:  Title, illustration of the Titanic, and your name

Page 2:  Designing of the Titanic

Page 3:  People of the Titanic-Passengers and Crew

Page 4:  Tour of the Ship/Layout of the Titanic

Page 5:  Iceberg Ahead!

Page 6:  Tragic Conclusions

Learning Targets:

I can create a flip-book about the Titanic, which includes facts and illustrations.

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3rd Grade Math

“Beast Academy”

Unit 4A: Shapes, Multiplication, and Exponents

www.BeastAcademy.com

In Brief:

They have continued exploring different multiplication strategies.  These strategies include using the distributive property, using the rectangle area diagram, and partial products.  All of these strategies are helpful when multiplying two and three digit numbers.  Now that they have had more practice using the different strategies, they are finding which strategies work best for them.

Multiplication Distributive Property

4 x 26 =4 x (20+6) = 4 x 20 + 4 x 6 = 80 + 24 = 104

Rectangle Area Diagram

Partial Products

   4 2

  X 3

     6

+120

  126

Learning Targets:

I can demonstrate how to use the distributive property, the rectangle area diagram, and partial products strategies for multiplication.

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4th Grade Reading

“The Phantom Tollbooth”

by Norton Juster

In Brief:

We finished reading, “The Phantom Tollbooth” on Wednesday!!!  Next week we are going to watch the movie, which was filmed in the early 60’s.

The Ledger of Life:  Pretend that you are the Senses Taker and you need to complete your ledger.  Remember the many questions the Senses Taker asked Milo and his friends?  Many questions were meaningless and the interview took so long that it annoyed Milo and his friends.  See if you have more patience with these same questions.

Examples: * How old were you when you were born?  How old will you be in a little while?

Learning Targets:

I can read and discuss the chapters from “The Phantom Tollbooth” with my peers.

I can complete a questionnaire.

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4th Grade Math

“Project M3: What are the Chances?”

Data Analysis and Probability

In Brief:

The theoretical probability of an event is what you can expect to have happen if you conduct an event many times.  Theoretical probabilities are found by analyzing situations and comparing the number of favorable outcomes to the number of possible outcomes.  As indicated by the Law of Large Numbers, the experimental probability of an event will approximate the theoretical probability of an event as more and more trials are conducted.

Learning Targets:

I can learn about theoretical probability and will analyze events to determine their theoretical probabilities.

I can gather data and compare experimental probabilities to theoretical probabilities.

Vocabulary:

• Certain event- an event that will definitely occur.  A certain event has a probability of 1.
• Equally likely-two or more possible outcomes of a given situation that have the same chance of occurring or the same probability.  An equally likely event, such as tossing a heads using a fair coin, has a probability of ½.
• Experimental probability-a statement of probability based on the results of a series of trials.
• Possible outcomes-all of the possible numbers or results of an action.  For instance, the possible outcomes from rolling a number cube are 1,2,3,4,5, and 6.
• Probability-the chances of an event happening.  Probability is often represented as a number.  This can be expressed as 0 (impossible), 1 (certain) or a fraction in between 0 and 1.
• Trial-one round of an experiment.

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Other Important Information:

• You can expect a newsletter every two weeks.  I will also post my newsletters on the school website.
• My website can be accessed by going to the District Homepage-Services-Gifted and Talented.
• My classroom hours are Monday-Friday from 8:15-3:00.
• You can expect a grade for your child from me for 2nd, 3rd, and 4th quarters.

Have a great weekend!

Mrs. Aimee Johnson

KMES High-Potential Teacher

a.johnson@komets.k12.mn

634-1234 ext. 1537