Welcome back!!!

We are starting the 3rd week of GATE. In weeks 1 and 2 we went over procedures and have done small challenges to remind the students about all the different learning opportunities they have in class. Students have had opportunities to control the Sphero robots, conduct STEM challenges, utilize the Lego Wall, brainstorm on the Thinking Wall, create 3D art with our 3D pens, and log into their code.org accounts.

Our life principal word we are studying is "Courtesy".
Students are discussing how to be polite and mannerly and we are having fun with it! If you have a 2nd-->6th grade students they now have courteous responses for the following two prompts.
#1.  "Thank you"
#2. "How is your day/ morning/ afternoon?"

Students discussed how in class they will speak in complete sentences and address one another by name. We are working on acknowledging every conversation directed to us and valuing all ideas from our classmates.

I am still waiting for everyone to turn in their GATE contracts. Once I have those, I will begin posting more pictures and video of our classroom investigations.

Limeades for Learning has begun again! The most votes wins! Go here to read about the supplies we are asking for and to vote daily for our grant! https://www.limeadesforlearning.com/projects/1694180

For now: Here are our code.org classroom links. Students may work on their assigned "course" from home or they will have opportunities to work on them in GATE class as well.  Students who pass their assigned "course" will have access to a special STEM challenge coming up!

CLASSROOM LINKS TO CODING:

2nd grade website  http://studio.code.org/sections/GPKBPV

3rd  grade website http://studio.code.org/sections/MSRDON

4th grade website http://studio.code.org/sections/MAWNES

5th grade website http://studio.code.org/sections/NEVJUK

6th grade website http://studio.code.org/sections/QUIXLW

7th grade website http://studio.code.org/sections/UWZETY

8th grade website http://studio.code.org/sections/IFPQIW

9th grade website http://studio.code.org/sections/NUWKEY

Week One Slideshow: 
Week 1 we introduced the different zones of the classroom to the students through a scavenger hunt. Students had to write their name on the thinking wall, create their first initial on the lego wall, determine where our classroom supplies were and how many pieces of technology (iPads, 3D pens, etc.) we had.

One of the neatest things we did was have a group discussion of what it means to be in the gifted program, why we have GATE, what activities they enjoyed last year, and what activities they look forward to this year. It was a perfect start to what will be a wonderful year of learning and investigations. Watch our video below as a recap of the week.