March

Take a look at some of the awesome projects that were created during our testing hiatus!

Back in the Grey Area, students looked at both chlorine and acid rain and new suspects in the mystery of the dying fish. First they role-played a reenactment of a meeting of the Gray Area Board of Supervisors where our suspect and owner of the water slide was consulted. He shared results from chlorine tests conducted down the river from his business. Students took a closer look at the results from the chemical tests and performed a bio-assessment of their own on a macro-invertebrate called daphnia to check the more long term effects of chlorine on the area. They also examined some secret documents that provided further clues as to how the varying data could all add up. Next, students looked at air pollution and acid rain as the possible culprits. They investigated pH testing and built their knowledge of acids and bases so they could apply it to the waters of Gray Area. Finding the Gray Area rain to be strongly acidic, they then tested the various bodies of water in the region. They found some interesting results in that only one river in the area maintained an acidic pH. This lead to further investigation into the geology of the area and the effects of acid on aquatic ecosystems. The owners of local factories as well as commuters were questioned and added to our pool of suspects.

 

We also collected data on student's heart rate after activity. Interpreting this data is on hold while we are doing distance learning, but see what you can come up with at home! What is the average heart rate of a 3rd grader after excercise?

Here is our data: 50, 71, 58, 72, 49, 47, 55, 64, 110, 60, 88, 90, 90, 55, 75

January/ February

Systems: We officially embarked on our journey as environmental detectives! Students began the new year with a review of systems and a teamwork challenge to prepare themselves for their upcoming experiences. Students were introduced to the Gray Area and the mysterious fish kill that has been taking place there over the last five years. They met some of the key players (suspects?!?!) in the region, looked at maps of the area to identify factors that may be at play, and studied the history of the area as they compiled a timeline of events and developments over the past 100 years. Throughout this semester they will be acting as scientists, council members, reporters, and detectives as they conduct tests and research to uncover the reason behind the declining fish population.

With the bulk of our focus on water, students read A River Ran Wild by Lynne Cherry and saw the effects of disrespecting water as a resource. They also saw that there is hope for restoration of polluted waterways and how they can play a part in the solution. Research was done on watersheds and students got to participate in a simulation of pollution's downstream journey with our guest from Richland Soil and Water Conservation District.

We also looked at different tests that can be conducted to evaluate water quality. Some of these tests will help us identify our Gray Area culprit. We learned about turbidity tests to check for clarity and sediments, (helpful in the investigation of the erosion caused by the clear-cutting logging company) phosphate and nitrate tests to see if fertilizers may be causing an abundance of algae growth, (helpful in the investigation of the cattle ranch and farm) bio-assessment tests for macro-invertebrates, and pH tests.

Critical and Creative Thinking: This month students enjoyed practicing their critical thinking with Sudoku puzzles. We also had a lesson on idioms to help us use flexible thinking and solve our plexer picture puzzles.

M^3 (Mentoring Mathematical Minds) Digging for Data: In math students wrapped up their work on mean, median, mode, and range by completing a review Bingo choice activity where many great products were created! They also showed their stuff on our check-up assessment.

Habits of Mind: Students began our class novel study of Listening to Crickets by Candice Ransom. This book is a biography about author and environmental activist Rachel Carson. As we read, we are taking to analyze and respond to the text as well as pick out the specific Habits of Mind Rachel used to find success in her field.

November/ December

Systems: We moved from the crime scene to the forensics lab as students looked at how evidence is processed. We studied DNA and its role in the justice system. Our analysts also used ink chromatography and chemical property lab tests to solve the “Case of the Dognapping” and the “Case of the Crummy Cake”.

Our next systems stop was the courtroom and how evidence is presented in trial. We spent time researching the elements of the courtroom and the progression of trials. Students made some excellent presentations to share with the class and we finished with playing the role of opposing attorneys in the Make Your Case game. Use this link to play at home! http://www.scholastic.com/americanjustice/makeyourcase/

Our culminating activity was solving the case of The Case of the Teachernapping" where I got to play to role of my twin for the day and help students use what they have learned to solve the mystery of my disappearance.

Critical and Creative Thinking: This month students practiced reasoning strategies by using clues to complete matrix logic puzzles. They used the given information to make one and two step deductions in order to find or eliminate matches between the puzzle categories.

Habits of Mind: Our main Habit of Mind focus has been on gathering data. Students used crime scene observations to consider the distinction between evidence and inference and the role of both when investigating. We also practiced metacognition as we set goals and reflected on our learning so far this year. We also practiced flexible thing and persisting with the Set Daily Puzzle, Mastermind, and Tangrams.

M^3 (Mentoring Mathematical Minds) Digging for Data: In math we continued in our data unit and worked on creating line plots and using them to find the median, mode, and range of the set. Students have used our Nearpod software to do some self-paced practice and build their math vocabulary.

Courthouse Field Study

We had a great time watching the judicial process and interacting with professionals in the field.  Our students were the best around and we even had a few stand in as jurors in the trial!  Thanks to our wonderful chaperones for accompanying us!

October

Systems: This month our CSI focus has been on questioning and eye witness accounts. Students participated in various activities geared toward understanding quality questions in interrogation, the often unreliable nature of eyewitness testimony, and the power of close observation. Students witnessed a theft in our own classroom and used what we learned about composite sketches to make a drawing of the perpetrator. We then looked at some online activities testing their powers of observation and helping them match the suspect with the crime. Try them for yourself!

Art of Crime Detection

Perp Walk

Face Memory

We also used our time to do research into forensic science and the order of events when a crime scene is processed. Students learned about Locard's Principle that criminals always take a trace of something with them and leave a trace of something behind at a crime scene. They also learned about collecting that evidence and how it gets from the crime scene to the courtroom.

Critical and Creative Thinking: Our brain stretch focus has been on word analogies as we built vocabulary and looked for relationships between ideas. Students practiced writing bridge sentences to test for a consistent link between terms.

Try this one for yourself: tornado : scary :: ALERT: _________

A. boring
B. dull
C. green
D. FUN!

We also carried over into figural analogies where they had to apply relationship thinking to compare images.

Habits of Mind: Our main Habit of Mind focus has been on Managing Impulsivity. We read the book Interrupting Chicken by David Ezra Stein and discussed it as a non-example of managing impulsivity, thinking before acting, and using your brain to manage your body. 

We also paired the skill of Gathering Data Through All Senses with our CSI theme to talk about qualitative and quantitative observations and the difference between observations and inferences. 

M^3 (Mentoring Mathematical Minds) Digging for Data: Students were introduced to the term rate and collected data based on their rate of completing some chosen activities. They used this data to ponder the question "what is typical?"

I did a terrible job of taking pictures. Sorry!

CSI Field Study

We had so much fun on our CSI field study with the Richland County Sheriff's Department!  Students were able to learn about tools and processes for crime scene reconstruction including fingerprinting, footwear impression molding, evidence documenting and collection, and DNA.  I know this experience helped students gain a deeper understanding of our year-long systems theme.

Thanks to Ms. Bates for most of the photos!