Paper Circuit Haikus

Today we will start a project which will merge paper circuits and poetry. You have written a haiku about light. First you will illustrate your haiku using a collage method, making decisions about which element of the illustration you wish to illuminate. Once the illustration is complete, you will design a paper circuit using copper tape, LEDs, coin battery and a switch. Once it is designed you will create it on cardstock, which will sit behind your illustration.

HaikuandCircuit from Heights Elementary School on Vimeo.

Illegal Immigration Persuasive Writing Movie

You have read about the different points of view regarding illegal immigration, and now it is time to choose a side and write a persuasive piece which will be turned into a movie. Once you have finished the writing, you will storyboard it and decide which pictures will be used in which sections. Use the websites below to collect pictures for your movie.

Pixabay
Morguefiles
Wikimedia Commons

Next you will create a movie in iMovie complete with voiceovers and music.

How to Make a Complete Circuit

Show what you know about how to make a complete circuit. Use the iPads and Explain Everything to create a short movie on how to create a complete circuit to light up a bulb. You may go to Pixabay to gather pictures for your materials. Include labels for your objects on the materials page. Label the critical contact points on your final slide. You can also demonstrate how the electrons flow with your laser tool. Use the storyboard to plan out your project.

A Complete Circuit

You have a battery, copper wire, and a light bulb. Can you make a complete circuit? Use Kid Pix to draw the parts of a light bulb and then arrange a wire (or two) and a battery to illustrate a complete circuit. Label the parts of the bulb, the components of the circuit, and the critical contact points.

complete-circuit

Visit the site below for interactive activities about electricity.

Circuits and Conductors

Changing Circuits

Ellis Island Tour

Using the iPads, you will learn about Ellis Island, the place where over 12 million immigrants passed through in search of a better life. The Interactive Ellis Island Tour is rich in audio files and photographs. Use the document Ellis Island Tour to take notes while you read each web page carefully and click on the audio and photo links. Click on the picture of the Statue of Liberty to take you to the website. If you are done early watch the Brainpop movie on immigration and take the graded quiz.

Self Portrait Smashup

Today we will begin to create an animated self portrait with the iPads. First we’ll draw ourselves in SketchbookX using a photo that we took with the camera as a guide. Then we will create a PNG image from our drawing using Superimpose. Finally we will use DoInk to create an animated object that represents something we love to do and pull it all together as a single composition.

Volcano

Today we will use the iPads and the app Drawing Pad to draw a cross-section of a volcano. Label the different parts of the volcano and save to the camera roll. Upload your picture to Google Drive. You will use your picture in a paragraph in which you will write about the different types of volcanoes.

volcano2

A Complete Circuit

Show what you know about how to make a complete circuit. Use the iPads and Explain Everything to create a short video on how to create a complete circuit to light up a bulb. You may go online to gather pictures for your materials. Include labels for your objects on the materials page. Label the critical contact points on your final slide. You can also demonstrate how the electrons flow with your laser tool. Use the storyboard to plan out your project.

Ellis Island Tour

Using the iPads, you will learn about Ellis Island, the place where over 12 million immigrants passed through in search of a better life. The Interactive Ellis Island Tour is rich in audio files and photographs. Use the document Ellis Island Tour to take notes while you read each web page carefully and click on the audio and photo links. Click on the picture of the Statue of Liberty to take you to the website. If you are done early watch the Brainpop movie on immigration and take the graded quiz.

State Research

Today you will spend most of the period gathering information for your State Report. Use the following websites to help you.

state

Enchanted Learning- US States

50 States

Stately Knowledge

Explore The States

Fact Monster

Things to Do

During the last fifteen minutes of the class use the following websites to practice your knowledge of state capitals and locations. Use the games at home to help you learn the capitals!

State Game-Sheppard

Kids Geo

State Capitals

States and Capitals

National Geography Geospy

Where is That?

Find the State

MCAS Math Practice

This week you will take the fourth grade math test that the state of Texas gives their students at the end of the year. The test will give you practice for your exam and will also let your teacher know about the areas in math she may need to review with you. The test is online and you can score it instantly. Click on the link below and enter your first name only.

Math Test

Van Gogh Chairs- QR Codes

You’ve recorded your podcast and today it is time to generate a QR code for it, so that people at the art show can listen to it on their smart phones. Head to the website where the artcasts are stored. Copy and paste the URL from your webpage into a QR code generator , test the code with your iPads, and print the code. Pencil in your name on the printout, so Mrs. Mellman knows which one is yours. The code will be displayed on the artwork that is in the show.

Biography Powerpoint

Today we will set up your Biography Powerpoint presentation. Download a picture of your person. Include the following information on your slides.

1. Title Page with picture
2. Personal Background- major events in person’s life
3. Personality Traits
4. Significance- Why was this person important
5. Obstacles
6. Important Quote
7. Credits

We will use the iPads and the app FaceTalk to creatae your person speaking the quote. We will then insert the movie into the quote slide. Click to see my example below.

https://heightstechnology.edublogs.org/files/2013/03/IMG_0133-12afg17.mov

Transliteracy: Van Gogh’s Chairs and QR codes

Based on a project by Sylvia Tolisano we will be working on an art, ELA, and technology project over then next few weeks.

  • After learning about Van Gogh’s chairs, from Mrs. Mellman in Art, you drew a chair that represented you and things important to you
  • Next you will write a script with Mrs. Hanley describing your chairs and the choices you made
  • We will type the script in Microsoft Word
  • Then we will use Garageband to podcast the script
  • Finally, we will create a QR code which will be posted on your picture at the Art Show for all to see and listen to

State Regions Project

You will work in groups to learn about the climate, population, native people, economy, land and waterway, natural resources, animals and plants of a USA region. Below are the steps you must complete to create a movie which will serve as a teaching tool for all the groups.

  1. Research your region with your teammates. Use the Research Guide and sites on our Regions wiki.
  2. Use the storyboard guide to create a script based upon your research.
  3. Use the iPads to collect the pictures you need for your movie from public domain sites listed on the wiki.
  4. Use Explain Everything and Skitch to put together your movie. Use screencasting techniques when it helps to explain your information.

A Complete Circuit

You have a battery, copper wire, and a light bulb. Can you make a complete circuit? Use Kid Pix to draw the parts of a light bulb and then arrange a wire (or two) and a battery to illustrate a complete circuit. Label the parts of the bulb, the components of the circuit, and the critical contact points.

complete-circuit

Visit the site below for interactive activities about electricity.

Circuits and Conductors

Changing Circuits

Bugscope!

Our day has finally arrived for the Bugscope project! We will connect to the scanning electron microscope at the Beckman Institute at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign to examine the honey bee, an important plant pollinator. During our Bugscope session, we will control the microscope as we examine the insect at incredible magnifications. Have your questions ready because we will chat with the scientists during our session.

bugscope

Plant Parts Scavenger Hunt

Let’s take advantage of the last few days of warm weather and go outside with the digital cameras in search of plant parts. Your group will be looking for and photographing roots, stems, leaves, flowers, fruit, and seeds. Brainstorm with your group the function of each of the parts. In the lab we will use iPhoto to create a book with the pictures.

Verbs of Steel

We will use the Word to type in your paragraph, which includes many verbs of steel. We will review how to set up a heading in the header, set tabs, alignment and spacing, first line indent, and spellcheck. We will also learn how to use the highlighter tool to highlight the verbs of steel.

Bio Poem

Today we will review some of the formatting features in Microsoft Word, so you can begin to key in your Bio Poem. We’ll review how to set up a heading, Alignment and Spacing, formatting text, and Spellcheck. You also learn how to use Photobooth to take a picture yourself, which can be placed in the poem.

Bugscope!

Our day has finally arrived for the Bugscope project! We will connect to the scanning electron microscope at the Beckman Institute at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign to examine the honey bee, an important plant pollinator. During our Bugscope session, we will control the microscope as we examine the insect at incredible magnifications. Have your questions ready because we will chat with the scientists during our session.

bugscope

State Glog

Today you will begin to create a glog using the information you have researched about your state. Maps and flags are in the group folder. Check Wikimedia Commons for other images. Include the following on your glog:

1. State Name          4. Three famous people
2. State Flag             5. Three tourist attractions
3. A map                  6. Three basic facts
7. Date entered statehood and number

MCAS Math Practice

This week you will take the fourth grade math test that the state of Texas gives their students at the end of the year. The test will give you practice for your exam and will also let your teacher know about the areas in math she may need to review with you. The test is online and you can score it instantly. Click on the link below and enter your first name only.

Math Test

 

State Research

Today you will spend most of the period gathering information for your State Report. Use the following websites to help you.

state

Enchanted Learning- US States

50 States

Stately Knowledge

Explore The States

Fact Monster

Things to Do

During the last fifteen minutes of the class use the following websites to practice your knowledge of state capitals and locations. Use the games at home to help you learn the capitals!

State Game-Sheppard

Kids Geo

State Capitals

States and Capitals

National Geography Geospy

Where is That?

Find the State

Transliteracy: Van Gogh’s Chairs and QR Codes

Based on a project by Sylvia Tolisano we will be working on an art, ELA, and technology project over then next few weeks.

  • After learning about Van Gogh’s chairs, from Mrs. Mellman in Art, you drew a chair that represented you and things important to you
  • Next you will write a script with Mrs. Hanley describing your chairs and the choices you made
  • We will type the script in Microsoft Word
  • Then we will use Garageband to podcast the script
  • Finally, we will create a QR code which will be posted on your picture at the Art Show for all to see and listen to

A Complete Circuit

You have a battery, copper wire, and a light bulb. Can you make a complete circuit? Use Kid Pix to draw the parts of a light bulb and then arrange a wire (or two) and a battery to illustrate a complete circuit. Label the parts of the bulb, the components of the circuit, and the critical contact points.

complete-circuit

Visit the site below for interactive activities about electricity.

Circuits and Conductors

Changing Circuits

Bugscope!

Our day has finally arrived for the Bugscope project! We will connect to the scanning electron microscope at the Beckman Institute at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign to examine the honey bee, an important plant pollinator. During our Bugscope session, we will control the microscope as we examine the insect at incredible magnifications. Have your questions ready because we will chat with the scientists during our session.

bugscope

Parts of Speech Screencast

Today we will begin to work on our screencast tutorials on parts of speech. Here are the steps:

  • You and your partner will use the brainstorm sheet to decide on what to include in the screencast
  • We will learn how to use ActivInspire software to create the screencast
  • Write a script for the screencast
  • Fill out the storyboard planning sheet detailing every aspect of the screencast
  • Record the screencast

 

Landform Flipbook

Today you will use Google Earth to find four examples of landforms. Save the images in a new folder called Landforms. Don’t forget to save a picture of the Earth for your title slide. We will create a flipbook by inserting the images and definitions for each landform into PowerPoint and printing them two slides to a page.
Need help with a definition?
Landform Glossary

Bugscope!

Our day has finally arrived for the Bugscope project! We will connect to the scanning electron microscope at the Beckman Institute at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign to examine the honey bee, an important plant pollinator. During our Bugscope session, we will control the microscope as we examine the insect at incredible magnifications. Have your questions ready because we will chat with the scientists during our session.

bugscope

A Complete Circuit

You have a battery, copper wire, and a light bulb. Can you make a complete circuit? Use Kid Pix to draw the parts of a light bulb and then arrange a wire (or two) and a battery to illustrate a complete circuit. Label the parts of the bulb, the components of the circuit, and the critical contact points.

complete-circuit

Visit the site below for interactive activities about electricity.

Circuits and Conductors

Changing Circuits

Plant Parts Scavenger Hunt

Let’s take advantage of the last few days of warm weather and go outside with the digital cameras in search of plant parts. Your group will be looking for and photographing roots, stems, leaves, flowers, fruit, and seeds. Brainstorm with your group the function of each of the parts. In the lab we will use iPhoto to create a book with the pictures.

Verbs of Steel

We will use the new Word 2011 to type in your paragraph, which includes many verbs of steel. We will review how to set up a heading in the header, set tabs, alignment and spacing, first line indent, and spellcheck. We will also learn how to use the highlighter tool to highlight the verbs of steel.

Bio Poem

Today we will review some of the formatting features in Microsoft Word, so you can begin to key in your Bio Poem. We’ll review how to set up a heading, Alignment and Spacing, formatting text, and Spellcheck. You also learn how to use Photobooth to take a picture yourself, which can be placed in the poem.

MCAS Math Practice

This week you will take the fourth grade math test that the state of Texas gives their students at the end of the year. The test will give you practice for your exam and will also let your teacher know about the areas in math she may need to review with you. The test is online and you can score it instantly. Click on the link below and enter your first name only.

Math Test

Rocks and Minerals Review

Today we will review Rocks and Minerals. Watch the Brainpop movie by clicking on the picture below then open up a blank Word document, place your heading in the header area, and answer the following open response question:

Elena found a piece of a mineral while on a hike. She wants to identify the mineral she found.

a. Identify two physical properties of minerals.

b. Describe how Elena can test the mineral she found for each of the physical properties that you identified in part (a).


mineral

If you are done early you can try the following games:

Rocks and Minerals game1

Rocks and Minerals Game 2

Rock Game

Quiz on Earth and Rocks

State Research

Today you will spend most of the period gathering information for your State Report. Use the following websites to help you. You may also use the World Book Online.

state

Enchanted Learning- US States

50 States

Stately Knowledge

Explore The States

Fact Monster

During the last fifteen minutes of the class use the following websites to practice your knowledge of state capitals and locations. Use the games at home to help you learn the capitals!

State Game-Sheppard

Kids Geo

State Capitals

States and Capitals

National Geography Geospy

Where is That?

Find the State

World Math Day!

World Math Day is March 1! We will be competing all day long on February 28 since the site originates in Australia and they are a day ahead of us. Tens of thousands of students around the globe will be competing in mental math heats to break the record for number of correct answers. Classes have signed up for 25 minute time slots in the lab to give it their best. Good luck!

mathday

Landform Flipbook

Today you will use Google Earth to find four examples of landforms. Save the images in a new folder called Landforms. Don’t forget to save a picture of the Earth for your title slide. We will create a flipbook by inserting the images and definitions for each landform into PowerPoint and printing them two slides to a page.
Need help with a definition?
Landform Glossary

Using Numbers, Organizing Data, and Decimals

Today we will review for your math mid-term. If you did not get a chance to complete last week’s decimal activity, complete that assignment first. Watch the movie below and take the quiz. After scoring 10/10, use the links below to help you with using numbers and organizing data skills.

Mean

Seashell Rounding

Cookie Dough

Mystery Picture

Train Race

Landmark Shark Game

Bugscope Session

Our day has finally arrived for the Bugscope project! We will connect to the scanning electron microscope at the Beckman Institute at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign to examine the honey bee, an important plant pollinator. During our Bugscope session, we will control the microscope as we examine the insect at incredible magnifications. Have your questions ready because we will chat with the scientists during our session.

bugscope

Bio Poem

Today we will review some of the formatting features in Microsoft Word, so you can begin to key in your Bio Poem. We’ll review how to set up a heading, Alignment and Spacing, formatting text, and Spellcheck. You also learn how to use Photobooth to take a picture yourself, which can be placed in the poem.

Plant Parts Scavenger Hunt

Let’s take advantage of the last few days of warm weather and go outside with the digital cameras in search of plant parts. Your group will be looking for and photographing roots, stems, leaves, flowers, fruit, and seeds. Brainstorm with your group the function of each of the parts. In the lab we will use iPhoto to create a book with the pictures.

Bio Poem

Today we will review some of the formatting features in Microsoft Word, so you can begin to key in your Bio Poem. We’ll review how to set up a heading, Alignment and Spacing, formatting text, and Spellcheck. You also learn how to use Photobooth to take a picture yourself, which can be placed in the poem.

Reading Response

Today we will key your reading response into Microsoft Word and review some formatting features. First, we will learn how to put a school heading on your page using the Header portion of Word. We will review how to Center a title, use the First Line Indent, and Line Spacing to double space. Next week we will review how to use Spelling and Grammar check and format your fonts. Finally we will learn to add a picture to your document.

la_notetaking

National Park Project

Today you will be conducting research online about your chosen National Park. Once you have gathered your information, in addition to creating a written paragraph, you will create a slide in Powerpoint which includes a picture of the state where the park is located, a couple of pictures of the park, and a reason to preserve it. Your slides will be displayed at the State Fair.

Arches

Use the following websites to gather information about the park.

WebRangers

US National Park Service

National Geographic

US Parks

World Book Online

Use the following websites to collect public domain pictures of your park.

National Park Services Images

Pics4Learning

Wikimedia Commons

MCAS Math Practice

This week you will take the fourth grade math test that the state of Texas gives their students at the end of the year. The test will give you practice for your exam and will also let your teacher know about the areas in math she may need to review with you. The test is online and you can score it instantly. Click on the link below and enter your first name only.

Fourth Grade Math Test

Simple Machines Minibook

Today you will create a simple machines minibook that you will use as a study guide. Create one page for each of six simple machines. Each page of the book should include a title (name of machine), a definition, and a picture of an example of the machine.

Lever

Use these websites to help you:

The Elements of Machines

inQuiry Almanack – Simple Machines

Simple Machines Examples

Fables

Today you will key your fable into Microsoft Word. Use the story template in the group folder so that the finished product looks like a short book. We will format the book as a children’s book with large fonts and pictures that you can share with your Kindergarten Learning Buddies.

Tortoise_and_Hare

World Maths Day!

March 3 is World Maths Day and tens of thousands of students around the globe will be competing in mental math heats to break the record for number of correct answers. Classes have signed up for half hour time slots in the lab to give it their best. Students may spend five minutes creating an avatar at the site prior to playing the games. Good luck!

Feet In Flight Writing Prompt

Today you will key into Microsoft Word the Feet in Flight writing prompt. Place a heading on your page, center a title, indent your paragraph, double space your document, and use the spelling and grammar check. We will also learn how to download a picture from the Microsoft Office Clipart website and insert it into our document.

Landform Flipbook

Today you will use Google Earth to find four examples of landforms. Save the images in a new folder called Landforms. Don’t forget to save a picture of the Earth for your title slide. We will create a flipbook by inserting the images and definitions for each landform into PowerPoint and printing them two slides to a page.
Need help with a definition?
Landform Glossary

A Special Day

Today you will key in your writing prompt, A Special Day. Place a heading in the header and center a title on the page. Indent the first line of each paragraph using the first line indent marker. Double space your work, change the font, spellcheck, and add a graphic.

Landform Flipbook

Today you will use Google Earth to find four examples of landforms. Save the images in a new folder called Landforms. Don’t forget to save a picture of the Earth for your title slide. We will create a flipbook by inserting the images and definitions for each landform into PowerPoint and printing them two slides to a page.
Need help with a definition?
Landform Glossary

Need help with a definition?
Landform Glossary