3D Printing!

The GATE program received a grant of about $1000.00 for 3D printing. The grant was a professional development for teachers grant. In other words, it was given to us to help enhance the teacher's skill set so I can turn around and teach using the equipment. We did make our very first 3D object today, but I have A LOT to learn about printing!

Yep, that right there is a square we printed. Whoot whoot! More to come...

A few logos...

Students have been working away studying about how fonts, symbols and color influence people daily.

Preparing for our project coming up in March and field trip in May, students were challenged to design a logo that represents who they are as a person-- or who they want to become. Here are just a few of the designs from students 1st grade - 8th grade.

Tee-shirt challenge

Students in the GATE program will enhance their graphic design curriculum by collaborating with a local graphic tee-shirt business owner and trying to create her next "hit" to sell. Students explored the concepts we had learned about and researched current graphic tee trends.

Students collaborated throughout the designing process and had the option to send in their sketches to the business owner for feedback, criticism, or ideas.

Here is Wyla from Backyard Shirts and Designs giving the students their challenge!

February 2015 Parent Conferences

Hello Parents!

I will be in the GATE classroom for the Tuesday Parent conferences, but unfortunately will be unavailable/ out of town attending a State Gifted Conference during the Thursday conference times.

Elementary & Middle school parents -- come by Tuesday after school if you can make it!

COMPUTER PROGRAMMING STATION:
I have set up computers for students to show you how to computer program. Each computer is labeled Parent 1 - Parent 6 so that 6 parents can be coding at the same time. The password for each account is the picture of the Red bird. Feel free to practice in your own time at home as well~ I will keep these accounts active; however, since you are sharing with other parents you will need to remember which level you are on.

Parent 1 account

Parent 2 account
Parent 3 account
Parent 4 account
Parent 5 account
Parent 6 account

MARKETING / BRANDING STATION:
I will have the iMac & have 3 iPads on the tables for students to show you about the marketing/ branding unit we have been doing. Feel free to use the paper and markers to design your own logo.
Be sure to ask your students the following question:
1. What symbols should you use?  Here is the website they drew inspiration from
2. What colors should you consider for your logo?  (Use the color chart below)
 3. How should your name appear on your logo?
*some classes will be able to show you the logos they have been working on, whereas others have taken their projects home.

SPHERO STATION:
Under my grey cabinets, I will have 3 iPads and spheros waiting for you. Yes, the spheros can move around like remote controlled objects, but challenge your students to show you the app "Macro" and how it works. Students have each created 2-3 small computer programs for the Spheros within this app.
1. Have them show you how to use RGB to change its color
2. How they use the vocabulary "degrees" to set its heading
3. And if they can program it to do something special just for you!


EXCITING THINGS COMING?
We just received a $1000 grant for a 3D printer.
I will work on getting all the materials in needed to run this new equipment and being looking at next year to integrate 3D design into our curriculum.

5th grade Feb Skypes

This week I tried to trick the students. Knowing Hawaii wasn't on the main part of their maps, but rather tucked in the left hand corner -- I was almost sure they'd forget about it. Sure enough, students eliminated every state on the mainland and then looked back at their instructors confused and a little frustrated; however, it didn't take long. Within a minute, the lights in their heads went off and they knew EXACTLY that they were talking to Hawaii.

The second class was just as fun. I was hopeful that putting the other class right under their noses (in Oklahoma) would throw them off a little. As I walked by a few tables I overheard students telling each other, "Well, we know they aren't Oklahoma." Despite my tricks, both teams successfully found the other classes mystery Skype locations.

The last class of the day almost didn't get to Skype! The teacher and I had a miscommunication due to timezones and they weren't available. Thank goodness for Twitter and this sweet teacher in California who picked us up last min!  This class was able to find their counterparts just below Los Angeles in California. These students live off the beach and were 20 minutes from Disney Land and many go there monthly!

7th grade International Skypes

What a week!
5 international skypes in 3 days!!!

NEW ZEALAND
This international Skype proved to be absolutely amazing! Students on both sides of the Skype were able to find the location, province/state, and city of the other and then engaged in conversations about where they lived. Highlights: When New Zealand realized it was literally freezing in Oklahoma (32 degrees C) their reactions were hilarious. Our students asked them about the myth that their toilet flushes the opposite way of ours. New Zealand students quickly ran to the bathroom to investigate and the conversations about it had me laughing the rest of the day. Thank you so much for the Skype! We truly enjoyed it!
Highlight Version of New Zealand Here:

New Zealand taped the entire version and posted Here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Il0ZbfWWBsA



UNITED KINGDOM
We used most of the class period trying to find each other and did not have time for question/ conversations after the Skype. These kiddos were a little younger than us, but were every bit as good. We finally were able to find them in Scotland!

ONTARIO, CANADA (St. Thomas)

I was worried that scheduling a skype to Canada would prove to be too easy. We did find the other's nations very quickly, but trying to find their province and city was extremely difficult! Knowing it was an international skype, we kept looking too far away! St. Thomas is just a hop, skip, and jump away from New York and borders our very own Lake Eerie.  They were almost hiding underneath us! After the skype students discussed which fast food chain's each nation had and were surprised to see Patriot's football fans in the Canadian classroom.

ONTARIO, CANADA (Toronto)
Again, Canada seems to stump us! They asked if we were in the United States as their first question! I thought we were goners, but we rallied and found their province before they found our state (they have a few more options than we did). We ended up finding them in the last minute in Toronto and decided to take a selfie together :)

VENEZUELA
This teacher was wanting his class to have a "language" experience and we were needing a "mystery skype". The answer was a compromise. Students mystery skyped just like in the other classes, but then had to take their question to a translator. This translator would write the message in spanish using an online translator and then we would attempt to say the question in spanish and then in English.

When the Skype occurred we realized immediately that there had been more of a language barrier than we expected, but we compromised again. They asked us questions about our lives and we asked them normal Mystery Skype questions trying to find them. We were able to get them located between 4-5 different countries on the northern tip of South America when they decided to sing a song to us. Although the song was in spanish a few students thought they heard the word Venezuela and so that was our next guess!  Great job kids.

2nd graders Mystery Skype to Iowa

Skyping with Iowa students for a game of Mystery Number Skype :) Check us out on our video!