Breaking Rocks

Breaking Rocks

Breaking Rocks

SCIENCE

This week in science we're going to talk about creating a plan to break a rock. Your child will need to come up with a plan on how they will go about breaking a rock, what safety precautions they will need to think about and plan for themselves and others in the classroom as well as what they think they might find in the rock. We'll be working on this plan on Wednesday. Your child will bring the supplies they might need to school on Thursday and follow through with the plan they created. If this should change I will let you know. 

I can try to bring what the kids need but if they could bring their own supplies it will help keep them excited about the task. 

I'm excited to see what they come up with. 

Rock Holders

I've got some great problem solvers in the classroom this year. Their task was to construct a Rock Holder that an inventor had created to display the beautiful rocks found in their community. The Rock Holder needed to be stable, hold one rock, only use one piece of paper and be able to either stand on it's own or be held by one hand. The students had to create what they thought the inventor made. 

I wanted to see how they problem solved and attacked the task. They worked really hard and went right to work. I was watching to see how they persevered since we had been talking about what perseverance was in math and computer class. Here are the amazing Rock Holders some of them came up with. 

When I first designed this task, I thought they would just take the piece of paper and roll it up and put the rock on top. I never imaged they would have really used their imagination. For some, it wasn't a real  big challenge. I heard one say, "I make this all the time to carry my rocks" for her I guess it wasn't that difficult and she didn't really persevere but for others it was  challenge and I got to really see how they kept trying and trying. 

Welcome Back!

Oh my, I have not been very good about updating this blog. Another year has gone and a new school year is beginning. I've got a group of 13 boys and 5 girls. Yikes! I've got my work cut out for me. 

Today, I think it hit them that they are back in school. I could see the limp backs, tired eyes and glazed over looks just after library. They are tired. Thank goodness tomorrow is Friday. 

I have pictures to share but I'm just waiting on approval from parents. Until then, take a look at the new Rock Investigation I created. We've been doing a lot of sorting of Rocks. Their task was to sort by 2 attributes. As you'll see some can do it and others are still learning. That's okay because we've got a whole year to learn how to sort by two attributes. Sorting is a really big idea and I do not know if teachers really give it the time it needs in school. I know I am going to be spending more time on it this year.