Second Grade Service Learning

Second graders have been very passionate about their service learning project! Their topic is disability awareness. They first had to start by understanding what the word disability means and we took some time to research different disabilities. Students then dove deeper into the concept of fair vs. equal. They decided that fair doesn’t always mean that everyone gets the same thing, but they get what they need. That brought us to our next conversation about accommodations. Students looked at school and also out in the community and we made a list of all the different accommodations we saw. They made the realization that there are TONS of accommodations out there. Also some accommodations you can find everywhere and some you cannot.  

One accommodation second graders were very interested in learning about was a communication board on playgrounds. Many students have been to a playground that has a communication board, but most playgrounds (including Goodrich) do not have one. We also have students in our class that use a talker as a communication device. Second graders were so excited thinking that their project could help improve recess time for students in our classroom.

After deciding the direction we wanted to go on our service learning project, students got to work advocating for why they thought our school should purchase a communication board on the playground. They wrote letters, drew pictures, and created videos explaining how this board would benefit ALL kids in both our school and the community. We worked with many teachers and compiled all of our hard work onto Wakelet. They worked very hard and are eagerly awaiting their response! 

Check out their hard work: https://wakelet.com/wake/TaLG7KL21LCD_06vn8h7L

West Suburban Humane Society

Each year, students at Goodrich School complete a service learning project. This year first grade made dog and cat toys to donate to the West Suburban Humane Society. Last Friday, we had the opportunity to bring our donations and tour the West Suburban Humane Society. We even had the chance to meet some friendly dogs and cats. 

During our tour, students were able to learn about all different aspects of the humane society. Students saw where the animals lived, where they stored all items to care for the animals, and had the chance to learn a bit about what the process is like when animals first come to the humane society. Students were amazed to see the space where they store all the necessary items to care for the dogs and cats. They couldn’t believe how many of the items had been donated, just like their toys! 

This week, we are taking our learning a step farther by writing about why people should adopt an animal from the humane society.

Battle of the Books

Recently, our Goodrich readers set on an exciting literary journey. The students from Grade 3, followed by the readers from Grades 4 to 6, immersed themselves in the Battle of the Books competition, a thrilling event that celebrates the joy of reading and the power of teamwork.

So, what exactly is the Battle of the Books, you ask?

Teams of readers were formed, each consisting of dedicated students with a passion for reading. These teams delved into a carefully curated list of books, spanning various genres and themes.

The teams embarked on a journey of reading. Week after week, they delved into the depths of each book, making sure they were comprehending the characters, unraveling plot twists, and uncovering the hidden gems found within the pages. Teams prepared to put their knowledge and understanding of the stories to the test in a friendly competition!

Teams gathered in the gymnasium to showcase their literary power! Students competed in rounds of questions all centered around the stories.

Battle of the Books is a celebration of reading. It's about instilling a lifelong love for literature, fostering teamwork and empowering students to explore all types of books!

Congratulations to our winning teams!

 

   

   

   

Gardening in Pre-K

 Ms. Kilkenny's Class Investigates Gardens

Ms. Kilkenny’s class has begun a brand new unit on gardening.  The first thing we did was take a trip around Goodrich to see if we had anything growing in our gardens.

We found Flowers!  We recorded our findings on our sheets. 

How do plants grow?  From seeds.  In the Discovery Center we investigated different kinds of seeds.  And, no you don’t plant a tomato to grow a tomato.  Who knew the seeds were so tiny!

We made our own individual green houses and we sprouted some bean seeds.  

We have a "Garden" in the Sensory Table

Students brought in garden items from home for Show and Tell.  Nice Garden gloves!

We loved investigating all of the different types of gardens-flower, fruits, vegetable and of course our favorite Herbs! Can you eat a plant?  Yes, if it is an herb! 

The best thing of all was taste testing herbs!  First, we had to pull apart the leaves of Rosemary, Chives and Thyme.

We mixed the herbs with cream cheese and put it on a cracker.  

We graphed our results:

Rosemary was the winner!

Step Inside!

In 5th grade we have started our final reading unit! This informational unit is focused on the history of AAPI in our country. We started out the unit by expanding our knowledge of Asia. One of the ways that we did this is through the thinking routine called "Step Inside." 

 "Step Inside" is a thinking strategy designed to foster empathy and deeper understanding by encouraging individuals to imagine themselves in the shoes of someone else. This routine prompts students to consider a situation or scenario from the perspective of a specific person or character involved, encouraging them to delve into the thoughts, emotions, motivations, and experiences of that individual. By stepping inside the mind of another, participants can gain insight into different viewpoints, develop empathy, and enrich their understanding of diverse perspectives, enhancing their ability to communicate effectively and navigate complex social interactions.

Here are some of the notes that students took during this routine:

It's crucial for 5th-grade students to engage in the "Step Inside" routine by immersing themselves in the life of a person from another country for several reasons. Firstly, it promotes empathy and understanding by allowing students to appreciate the diverse experiences and perspectives of people around the world. By stepping into the shoes of someone living in a different country, students can gain insight into the challenges, traditions, and values that shape their lives. This fosters a sense of global citizenship and appreciation for cultural diversity. Additionally, it cultivates critical thinking skills as students analyze the factors influencing the person's life, such as geography, history, and socio-economic conditions. Through this process, students not only broaden their worldview but also develop empathy, critical thinking, and cultural competence, essential skills for navigating an increasingly interconnected world.

Fun at The Forge

Every year, sixth graders go on their Outdoor Ed field trip at The Forge. Beyond acquiring outdoor skills, The Forge places a strong emphasis on personal growth and leadership development. Students are encouraged to step out of their comfort zones, confront challenges head-on, and develop resilience in the face of adversity. Whether it's conquering a fear of heights on the climbing wall or navigating through the forest on a scavenger hunt, every experience at The Forge is an opportunity for growth.

The Forge is overall a fun experience for everyone because it not only challenges you, but it also allows kids to create long lasting memories with their peers. You can team up for exciting quests, challenge each other, or simply enjoy some laughs together as you explore this magical place.

The fun never ends!

 

Character Review

Throughout the year we have read so many many books with some fantastic characters. In a couple of weeks we will celebrate by dressing as our favorite storybook character and complete a breakout challenge by reading clues about these characters to reveal keys and codes. We will need to open various locked boxes to discover if we have correctly identified the correct character. In order to prepare for this upcoming Character Day, we must review the most memorable characters from the books we have read all year long. 

Each day we are rereading three books with standout characters. Yesterday, we reviewed Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse, Amos McGee and the Lorax. Today, we reviewed The Very Hungry Caterpillar, The Kissing Hand, and Stand Tall Molly Lou Melon. We got to share the fun with our 6th Grade Buddies. This afternoon, we listened to Stand Tall Molly Lou Melon, discussed her characteristics, and made a craft. We are so excited to continue to review these fabulous characters in preparation for one of my favorite days of the year!

Volleyball Bowling?

Just kidding!  Volleyball Bowling sounds like a terrible idea.

We have ended out volleyball unit and are moving into our bowling unit. 

Last year was my first year doing bowling K-6 and it was AWESOME!!  We are so excited to do it again! We work on rolling skills throughout the year at each grade level, but by creating this specific bowling unit, we can really hone in on those skills.

Last year I found some great bowling activities from a fellow PE teacher and know they will work great again, as well as a few new ideas!  Because I do not have a giant bowling alley, many of our games have a TEAM aspect.  The groups of kids have to work together to collect the most cubes, earn the most money or to get a BINGO, etc.

I will even turn the gym into a Cosmic Bowling Alley for the end of the unit with Christmas Lights, LED rope lights and Black lights.

This should be an awesome unit and I cannot wait to watch these kids improve on their skills!

Here are some image highlights from last year:

        

    

Finding Surface Area

6th graders have been hard at work finding surface area of three dimensional shapes. After learning how to find the area of two dimensional shapes, they applied their learning to find the entire surface area of a shape.

We started by identifying and naming pyramids and prisms by looking at their attributes. After talking about the parts of each shape, students learned how to create a net of each shape based on the faces that make up each shape. We used Magna-tiles to create three dimensional shapes, trace the nets, and then find the area of each part. We then moved on to being able to draw a net of each shape and use an equation to find the total surface area. 

Students applied their learning to real world situations that would require surface area to be found to cover different structures. 

Investigating Asia

This week marked the beginning of our final informational unit in reading, with a focus on Asian American history. To kick off the unit, we started by filling out a circle map to capture what students already know about Asia. Many students came into the unit with prior knowledge of various countries and geographic features in Asia. The overarching goal of this unit is to deepen students' understanding of Asia and its diverse peoples.

We introduced our anchor text, World Studies: Asia, by reading the introduction together as a class. During this activity, students had the opportunity to contribute new ideas to their circle maps, building upon their existing knowledge base. Following the introduction, we divided the reading tasks among our teams. Team members one and two delved into a chapter on Asia's history, while team members three and four explored Asia's geography and climate.

To organize their learning effectively, students used a tree map to categorize and structure the information from their respective chapters. They then had time to independently read and take notes before discussing their findings with a partner seated next to them. After these peer discussions, each pair had the chance to participate in a Pairs Share activity, where they taught their findings to another pair. Through these activities, students not only expanded their knowledge of Asian American history but also demonstrated the power of collaborative learning.