Inventions of Yesteryear Collage- 3rd/4th Grade

The Third/Fourth Graders are working on a collage using Paint.  They're googling images of various inventions of yesteryear (the first car, computer, camera, etc) and inserting the images into Paint.

Publisher Creation- 5th & 6th Grade

The Fifth and Sixth Graders will be using MS Publisher to create a document of their choice to accompany their glog subject.  They have the choice to create a flyer, business card, brochure or post card.  One student's glog subject was about being a chef; his Publisher creation could be a menu for his restaurant.  Another student's glog subject was about being a fashion designer; her Publisher creation could be a buisness card.

Collage of Endangered Species- 2nd Grade

The Second Graders are working on a collage of endangered species using Paint.  This project requires the students to use a search engine to find images on the Internet and to use the edit toolbar on the Paint application.  Stay tuned for their completed pieces of art!

In the meantime, check out Shape Collage.  It's free.  It's cool.  It's easy.  It has educational potential!  I plan to download the application on each student computer.

Glogster Project- 3rd-6th Grade

The Third-Sixth Graders are creating a glog about a career of their choice.  They're including information about the range of income a for the job, the daily tasks, the type of degree needed to be qualified for the job and some other facts about the job. 

MS Word- 1st Grade

The First Graders are experimenting with MS Word.  All sorts of discoveries are being made independently by the children.  I'm hearing excited voices thoroughout the computer lab proclaim things like, "I figured out how to change the color," or, "Look! This is how you make the picture smaller!  Oh, the pure joy a teacher feels when the students are engaged and learning!

Endangered Species- 2nd Grade

The Second Graders visited a website about endangered species today.  They independently navigated the site. The kids liked this interactive site.  They read various facts about endangered animals in Africa, Austria, and South America.  Each student will choose a specie that is featured on the website to research, and they will complete a simple Power Point slide show about the specie.

Journal entry and Podcast- 5th & 6th Grade

The Fifth and Sixth Graders wrote a journal entry about their skyping session with the govenor.  Next week they will create an audio or video podcast thanking the governor for his time.  We will upload the podcast to this blog and share it with Gov. Branstad.

Light Temple- Game of the Week

The students requested "Light Temple" for the game of the week.  They describe it as "hard and fun!"  The game is listed under the "puzzle" games on miniclip.

Graphing Colored Candy- 2nd Grade

Creating a graph using the colors of candy pieces has sort of become a rite of passage for our Second Graders at ZSJ.  The kids just LOVE this project!  Today the students received their bag of Skittles or M&Ms, sorted the candy pieces by color and typed the information in a spread sheet.  After they had sorted and counted the candy, they were free to enjoy the candy.  Tomorrow they will show me that they know how to use the information on the spread sheet to create a graph!

Skype with the Govenor- 5th & 6th Grade

 

We skyped with Gov. Branstad!  I'm proud of the Fifth and Sixth Graders for an awesome job!  Thank you Govenor for your time!  We hope to skype with more important people in the future!

"Focus on Alaska" Slideshows- 3rd & 4th Grade

The Third and Fourth Graders chose a specific subject pertaining to Alaska, and they will create a Power Point slide show about the subject.  The assignment calls for six slides: one title slide and five fact slides.  The subjects up for grabs include:

• Mt. McKinely
• national parks
• game and fishing
• the Ididtarod
• migration of whales
• gold rush
• native residents
• life in Alaska

Governor Branstad Questions- 5th & 6th Grade

1. How long have you been governor of Iowa and do you like being the governor?
2. What does a governor have to do?  What is it like being the governor of Iowa?
3. What do you like most and least about being the governor?
4. What do you do during your spare time?
5. What is the wildest thing you have ever done?
6. In your opinion, what is the most important event in Iowan history?
7. What is your view on hunting?
8. What do you think needs to be changed in Iowa?
9. Where were you raised as a child?
10. What kind of school did you go to when you were a child?
11. What kind of values did you learn from your parents?
12. How does your faith effect your job as the governor?
13. How do you feel about Lutheran schools?
14. What do you envision for the future of Iowa schools with regards to technology?
15. Have you ever been to Zion-St. John Lutheran School or Paullina?

Aqua Energizer- Game of the Week

Aqua Energizer develops strategic planning skills with an emphaisis on cause and effect.

Musher Profiles- 3rd & 4th Grade

The Third and Fourth Graders completed their musher profiles today!  They used MS Word to write a 50+ word autobiography of the musher of their choice.  The students used the Iditarod musher listings on the Iditarod site for the basis of their research.  Some of the mushers had links to their personal websites, which enhanced the student's research and interest.  The work is already matted and posted outside the Third/Fourth Grade classroom in time for the Science Fair tomorrow night.  I encourage everyone to check out the wonderful display!  Way to go kids!

Landforms- 2nd Grade

The Second Graders are using MS Word to create a information sheet about the different types of landforms that they are learning about in class.  Their work includes a 3X5 table that contains an image, name and description of five different kinds of landforms.  This assignment is a review of how to insert a table and a header, center text, modify the font and use a search engine on the Internet for research.

The Last Great Race.

In the 3rd/4th Grade classroom, it's all about the Iditarod!

Skype with Governor Terry Branstad!

I emailed the Office of the Iowa Governor requesting that our Fifth and Sixth Graders skype with Governor Branstad.  Below is the response.

Governor Branstad greets a student

Hi Erin,

Thank you for extending an invitation for Governor Branstad to do a Skype interview with your 5th/6th Grade Class. The Governor asked me to accept the invitation on his behalf. Would March 16th work at 1:30?
Governor Branstad is looking forward to the event.

Wow!  This is exciting!  It's time for the Fifth and Sixth Graders to pull together some good interview questions because it's going to be Interview Time with a very prominent individual! 

Mr. Anderson's Fourth Grade Class-

Mr. Anderson with his daughters
Gabby and Alex

I just discovered Mr. Anderson, a fourth grade teacher at the Sibley Ocheyedan Community Schools.  He is big on technology and implements it in his classroom.  Please check out his website.  I will be checking it out for sure! 

2011 Iditarod- 3rd & 4th Grade

The Third and Fourth Graders will be learning about the 2011 Iditarod.  Today they visited the Iditarod website and reviewed the mushers profiles.  They listed their top 13 favorite mushers.  Later, in class, they will draw names to pick the musher that they want to research and follow throughout the entire race.

We will be exploring the various ways to integrate technology with this fun subject.  We're considering using Skype, Wikispaces, Blogger, Glogster, Blabberize, etc.