WATCH OUR STUDENTS Soar to New Heights Avondale: Butterfly Projects Build Brain Power First grade students in Mrs. Eckelberry’s class boosted their brain power by completing a multi-subject butterfly project. This project combined literacy and math learning standards and allowed students to express their creativity in the process! As part of the first grade literacy module on “Creature Features,” students had the opportunity to learn about many different kinds of creatures and critters, with a class favorite being butterflies. Mrs. Eckelberry used this interest in butterflies to boost her math instruction on symmetry and fractions. She states, “After learning about all of the fascinating features of butterflies during our reading unit, we incorporated this interest into our math studies. One feature that makes butterflies so beautiful is their symmetry. Students in first grade are beginning to deepen their understanding of this concept and how it ties to fractions and equal parts. I love the creativity of their final products!”
Barr: Learning on Display in a Creative Way!
First graders Ivan Bickis, Kira Nicholson and Kyle Gregory created these butterflies to show what they have learned during reading and math time.
Mrs. Eckelberry wasn’t the only one “all aflutter” over these projects. Ivan shared that his favorite part was learning that “symmetry means one side is the same as the other!” Kira is an artist by nature and loved adding her own special details to her butterfly, stating, “It’s so beautiful.” Kyle’s favorite part? “All of it.”
Middlebranch: Kindergarteners Have a ‘Blast in the Past’ Do you ever wonder what life was like for students over a hundred years ago?
Lena D’Agnese and Callie Eicher try using the washboard station.
Kindergarten classes at Middlebranch had the opportunity to explore that question in depth. During their learning module “Then & Now,” they traveled back into the 19th and early 20th centuries. The students read books, held lessons, played games, tried household chores and other school activities from the past. During indoor recess, the students played marbles, tops, jacks, and quilt making and discussed how they were different. Mrs. Helmkamp’s class was transformed into a one-room schoolhouse and Mrs. Julian’s class practiced writing with a quill pen and ink. The kindergarteners were excited to learn, try, and then discuss the various ways life was different for kids.
Frazer: New Energy Group The end of the school year is so close, yet so far away! Physical Education teacher, Mr. Rininger, is taking on the task of keeping students focused during the 4th nine weeks by forming a daily club for students at Frazer Elementary! Mr. Rininger and Frazer Elementary Success Coach, Ms. Vitale, meet with students to work on physical education skills as an energy release first thing in the morning. The group consists of students in kindergarten through second grade and includes mentor students in third and fourth grade who lead the younger students in the activities. Students spend 15-20 minutes in the gym working on PE skills, then conclude with a one-minute controlled breathing cool down. The goal is to help students get ready for learning. 8 EAGLE NATION MAGAZINE
Devin Upshaw, Axel Mutigli, Levi Stidd, Teagan Snyder, and Cory Branch get their energy out so they are ready for a day of learning!
The students have found the Energy Group to be a great way to start the day!
Sebastian Villanueva proudly shows his diorama which highlights a scene from the chapter book The Owl Diaries.
Second graders in Mrs. Greynolds’ classroom had the opportunity to display their learning in an exciting and creative way! Students completed a reading interest survey and selected a chapter book to complete a book project that focused on the importance of summarizing. Summarizing is an important skill as a developing writer. It builds on prior knowledge, improves writing, and strengthens vocabulary skills. Students had the opportunity to showcase their love of reading by presenting their chapter books to their class. After reading their self-selected book, they worked with Mrs. Greynolds to type a summary of their book. Then students had an opportunity to choose a way to present their understanding of their book in another way. This included a diorama, collage, or book jacket. These students chose to illustrate their understanding by creating a diorama. They did a fantastic job presenting a summary of their book and diorama to the class. Whenever students have the opportunity to share their understanding in a new and exciting way, it teaches them the importance of recognizing their own strengths. As they are able to see their own strengths, they grow as learners. These students had the opportunity to display their learning in a way that was personally unique and innovative to them. As a result, this inspired their fellow classmates. Sometimes we have the privilege of inspiring others through our own experiences of growth! You’re never too young to inspire!
