We Are Famous!

Last week we took part in a video conference with famous scuba and cave diver, Jill Heinerth!  We were chosen to participate based on our responses to the question, "Why should we explore?"

Our photo from our class as well as a mention in the post made it on

Jill Heinerth's blog!

Check it out!

Field Trip to McDaniel Farm

Today we went to McDaniel Farm to learn about farming and life during the Great Depression.  Students learned how many "chores" only paid ten cents per hour to chop wood and plow the fields.  We also saw how they lived off the land and had gardens and used animals to help farm the land.  We had such fun and learned so much at the same time!

At the tenant house in the middle of the farm.  Inside the house had one bedroom and a place to eat and an outhouse outside.

Students participating in "chores" where they had to collect wood and work together to get it from one place to the next.

Teamwork is important!

The house in the background was the farmer's house.

Pumping water and helping transport it to the well.

In front of the McDaniel farmhouse.

Having a great time in the cold!

TEDEd Explorer Connect Video Conference with Cave Diver Jill Heinerth

Today we were part of the first TEDEd Club Explorer video conference with Jill Heinerth, a famous scuba and cave diver!  We learned so much about the importance of collaboration, planning, and the connection between math, science, and engineering.  Students from TEDEd Clubs around the world were part of the call, including India!

Butterfly Ceremony: Honoring WWII Children in Terezin Concentration Camp

We read The Butterfly and poems written by children in Terezin concentration camp and each student received their own poem to read and reflect on as well as create a butterfly to represent the child's life.  During the ceremony, students read their poem and shared the art and writing on their butterfly.  Once they shared, the fate of the child was shared; many died in Auschwitz (the butterfly was cut down to rest), some had an unknown outcome (students chose the fate), and a few were liberated (remained on the ceiling).  Students did an excellent job honoring the memory of these children.

Waiting to share their poem.

After sharing their poems.

Memorial for the fallen butterflies.

Google Expeditions!

On Friday, every third, fourth, and fifth grade student was able to participate in Google Expeditions! This is a virtual reality field trip experience.  You can read more about it here. It was a day full of adventure for students and teachers!  Students explored under the ocean, shipwrecks, volcanoes, sharks, Auschwitz, and many other historical locations.  We were thrilled to have Google come out for a day to let us test out their app that is in beta testing.  This app will be available to schools for free at the end of the year and I know we are all excited to have this technology for our students to experience!

Teachers checking it out during training session:

The students were surprised they had a 360 degree view of the entire expedition!

 It was a day full of pure joy, excitement, and some screams (when they were experiencing sharks!)

 

 

 

        Mrs. Payne and her boss jumping in to the fun!

 
                         Mr. Robert having fun!