On Multiplication.com students can choose to play various games that will enhance their multiplication skills. Games are both single and multi-player games.
Thursday, February 28
Multiplication
In addition to the really cool game Timez Attack, multiplication.com provides another wonderful resource from which to learn multiplication facts.
On Multiplication.com students can choose to play various games that will enhance their multiplication skills. Games are both single and multi-player games.
On Multiplication.com students can choose to play various games that will enhance their multiplication skills. Games are both single and multi-player games.
Wednesday, February 27
Paragraphs
I've posted the students' paragraphs in the student work section of our website. They can also be found on each child's personal website.
Non-Snow-Day Fun
We're missing quite a few of our students today, but that hasn't stopped us. Today the students were exposed to the iPad app String. This is another augmented reality app but this time, instead of the students creating the system, the trigger and response were created for them.
Students were amazed by what they saw (see the video below). When they pointed their iPads, a little green monster magically appeared on their desk and began to wander around, a dragon emerged from a wall a flew off, or a shoe began to hover in the air.
Students interacted with the virtual objects and took their pictures with them. We are now in the process of writing a story about our fantastical creatures.
Students were amazed by what they saw (see the video below). When they pointed their iPads, a little green monster magically appeared on their desk and began to wander around, a dragon emerged from a wall a flew off, or a shoe began to hover in the air.
Students interacted with the virtual objects and took their pictures with them. We are now in the process of writing a story about our fantastical creatures.
Tuesday, February 26
Google+
Many of you may never have heard about Google+ , but it is Google's answer to Facebook. For those of you who use this site, you now have a new way to follow this blog. I have linked the my Google+ profile with this blog and all new posts will appear there. If you would like to follow me, do a search for Josh Borzick, and select the one from the School District of Cudahy.
For the foreseeable future, the only things that will appear on that site will be the blog posts, so if you don't visit Google+, but read the blog another way, you won't be missing anything.
For the foreseeable future, the only things that will appear on that site will be the blog posts, so if you don't visit Google+, but read the blog another way, you won't be missing anything.
Simple Machines
Today we continued our work with simple machines. Students were divided into teams and sent to explore Kozy. Their task was to find as many different examples of simple machines as they could and document each using the iPad's camera. The children did a great job and found many unique examples.
Below are some of the examples that the children found. See if you would have thought of them.
Monday, February 25
Epic Citadel!
For roughly a year now I've been trying to work in an iPad app called Aurasma somewhere, anywhere, into my curriculum. It actually became a kind of quest for me. Quest completed!
Aurasma is an augmented reality application that is really cool. According to Wikipedia, "Augmented reality (AR) is a live, direct or indirect, view of a physical, real-world environment whose elements are augmented bycomputer-generated sensory input such as sound, video, graphics or GPS data." An that is what this does.
I began the lesson by exploring the world within the app "Epic Citadel." This app allows the children to explore a beautifully created, mid-evil world complete with flags, fruit market, stores, castle, and temple but without any other person in sight. Children are free to explore the land and develop their own story line about what may have happened to all of the citizens of this world. After exploring the app for awhile, children worked together to develop a list of "power words" to describe the castle, or parts of the castle. The words were then turned into a word cloud using the website abcya.
The children then used these words, and their experience within Epic Citadel to write a paragraph about Epic Citadel introducing the setting of the castle. Next came the really cool part.
The children used the app Pinnacle to create a short movie of screen captures from the game as the backdrop to their paragraph. Then using Aurasma, the children used the movie as an overlay and their word clouds as a trigger image. Children were thrilled to see their movies miraculously appear when they scanned their clouds with the iPads.
I've included one of the students' videos below, but if you'd like to try this out for yourself, you can find the students' word clouds here. Print them out, and then follow the directions beneath the video to make it work.
Aurasma is an augmented reality application that is really cool. According to Wikipedia, "Augmented reality (AR) is a live, direct or indirect, view of a physical, real-world environment whose elements are augmented bycomputer-generated sensory input such as sound, video, graphics or GPS data." An that is what this does.
I began the lesson by exploring the world within the app "Epic Citadel." This app allows the children to explore a beautifully created, mid-evil world complete with flags, fruit market, stores, castle, and temple but without any other person in sight. Children are free to explore the land and develop their own story line about what may have happened to all of the citizens of this world. After exploring the app for awhile, children worked together to develop a list of "power words" to describe the castle, or parts of the castle. The words were then turned into a word cloud using the website abcya.
The children then used these words, and their experience within Epic Citadel to write a paragraph about Epic Citadel introducing the setting of the castle. Next came the really cool part.
The children used the app Pinnacle to create a short movie of screen captures from the game as the backdrop to their paragraph. Then using Aurasma, the children used the movie as an overlay and their word clouds as a trigger image. Children were thrilled to see their movies miraculously appear when they scanned their clouds with the iPads.
I've included one of the students' videos below, but if you'd like to try this out for yourself, you can find the students' word clouds here. Print them out, and then follow the directions beneath the video to make it work.
- Download the app “Aurasma” onto your Smartphone.
- Open the app and press the A at the bottom of the screen.
- Click on the search option.
- Type in "kozy1" and click the option.
- Click on "Epic Citadel."
- Press "Follow.
- Open the app and scan the word cloud
- Watch and enjoy.
I'd like to thank this blog for the great idea.
Saturday, February 23
Friday, February 22
Three Things
1. Progress reports went home today. If you gave me your email, your child's report was emailed to you. If you didn't, check your child's backpack.
2. Your child received a set of flashcards today. Please take 10-15 minutes each night to practice.
3. Please try to wrap up the discussions regarding family traditions. Each child should know about three traditions they have in their families and, if possible, a picture for each. They should also have a list of the members of their family tree as well as birth/death dates. Pictures should be emailed to your child's account; if you send prints I will turn them into digital pictures for you.
2. Your child received a set of flashcards today. Please take 10-15 minutes each night to practice.
3. Please try to wrap up the discussions regarding family traditions. Each child should know about three traditions they have in their families and, if possible, a picture for each. They should also have a list of the members of their family tree as well as birth/death dates. Pictures should be emailed to your child's account; if you send prints I will turn them into digital pictures for you.
Wednesday, February 20
Multiplication
We have recently begun working with multiplication in math class. Thus far, we have spent our time exploring what multiplication is, how and when it is used, and learning how to make multiplication easier. Throughout this time we have been using array cards to better understand multiplication. Today, the children used these cards and played a modified version of the card game, "War."
It's now time to start memorizing the multiplication facts. This memorization will be done exclusively at home. I will be sending home a stack of multiplication flash cards that you should work with your child on for at least 15 minutes each day until all of them are memorized. Cards are memorized when the child can give you the answer without taking anytime to figure it out.
There are also websites linked off of our classroom site that will drill children on facts. Also, don't forget about the wonderful game, Timez Attack I blogged about several weeks ago as well as numerous apps that can be downloaded to your tablet or phone.
It's now time to start memorizing the multiplication facts. This memorization will be done exclusively at home. I will be sending home a stack of multiplication flash cards that you should work with your child on for at least 15 minutes each day until all of them are memorized. Cards are memorized when the child can give you the answer without taking anytime to figure it out.
There are also websites linked off of our classroom site that will drill children on facts. Also, don't forget about the wonderful game, Timez Attack I blogged about several weeks ago as well as numerous apps that can be downloaded to your tablet or phone.
Wednesday, February 13
What a great field trip!
Today the students took their second field trip to the Schlitz Audubon Nature Center and it was fantastic!
The first portion of the trip found the children learning about three different habitats-forest, prairie, and pond. During the discussion the students learned about the things that each habitat provides to help organisms survive. Students then set off on a hike around the Audubon Center where they explored the different habitats and learned a little more about them first hand.
During the second part of the trip the students learned a little bit more about Native American history and culture. It began with what was, for many, the highlight of the trip-a Native American dance demonstration. For this portion, an Apache spoke to our class and performed the "Grass Dance" for us. He then led some students in another dance and exposed us to traditional song. Throughout it all he spoke a little bit about himself, his outfit, and Native American Culture.
Following, the students explored some artifacts pertaining to Native Americans of the past and were able to enter a Wigwam that was still under construction.
The trip was fantastic, be sure to ask your child about it. To see the pictures larger, click on the slide show.
The first portion of the trip found the children learning about three different habitats-forest, prairie, and pond. During the discussion the students learned about the things that each habitat provides to help organisms survive. Students then set off on a hike around the Audubon Center where they explored the different habitats and learned a little more about them first hand.
During the second part of the trip the students learned a little bit more about Native American history and culture. It began with what was, for many, the highlight of the trip-a Native American dance demonstration. For this portion, an Apache spoke to our class and performed the "Grass Dance" for us. He then led some students in another dance and exposed us to traditional song. Throughout it all he spoke a little bit about himself, his outfit, and Native American Culture.
Following, the students explored some artifacts pertaining to Native Americans of the past and were able to enter a Wigwam that was still under construction.
The trip was fantastic, be sure to ask your child about it. To see the pictures larger, click on the slide show.
Tuesday, February 12
Valentine's Day Inferencing
One of the skills that third graders work on is inferencing. Inferencing involves looking at a piece of text or a picture, looking for clues, and then using those clues to figure out what a character is thinking or feeling. To work on this skill today, students used the iPads two different apps make inferences about a Valentine's Day picture. Click on the slideshow below to see full size pictures.
Field Trip Tomorrow!
Just a quick reminder that our field trip to the Schlitz Audubon Nature center is tomorrow. A portion of this trip will be outside, so please remember to dress for the weather. Snow-pants boots, hats, and gloves are a must. Also remember that our bus will be leaving promptly at 8:30. Get to school on time or you'll miss the bus!
Saturday, February 9
Field Trip
Yesterday the third grade classes took their second field trip to the Boerner Botanical Gardens. This field trip found the students working hard to understand the various parts of the plants and their functions. Each part of the plant was explained, and the students then had the opportunity to examine, dissect and, much to the children's delight, eat the plant parts. Among the parts looked at were stems (celery), fruit (kiwi), and seeds (lima beans).
We will be attending two more trips to the gardens. The next one is sure to be very interesting-vermiculture is the topic. Click on the slide show to go to the web album.
We will be attending two more trips to the gardens. The next one is sure to be very interesting-vermiculture is the topic. Click on the slide show to go to the web album.
Week in Review
This week we dug deeper into multiplication. We began looking at multiplication in terms of the area of a rectangle as well as arrays. Students should be understanding how one can use easier multiplication problems to figure out more difficult ones. For example, if students know that 5x4=20, then 6x4=24 because there is just one more 4 than before.
Science finds us in the middle of our lessons on simple machines. Students are learning about the six different simple machines how they make work easier.
Lastly, students have finished their research on a president and have begun writing their paragraphs about them. The children seem to really have gotten into this project and enjoy writing in the first person, as if they are the president. This next week, students will begin typing these paragraphs and you should see them on your child's website soon.
Science finds us in the middle of our lessons on simple machines. Students are learning about the six different simple machines how they make work easier.
Lastly, students have finished their research on a president and have begun writing their paragraphs about them. The children seem to really have gotten into this project and enjoy writing in the first person, as if they are the president. This next week, students will begin typing these paragraphs and you should see them on your child's website soon.
Wednesday, February 6
Mary Todd Lincoln
I guess this is my day to blog. Earlier today I posted a list of upcoming events at the Cudahy Library, but I wanted to highlight one of them. Next Monday, February 11, there is an actress portraying Mary Todd Lincoln. We are currently in the middle of some presidential research and this would be an excellent addition to that research.
Traditions
We are currently reading a series of stories about family traditions. As part of this unit on, the students will be creating presentations about some of their family traditions. To prepare for this, I will need parents’ help.
Talk with your child about some of his/her favorite family traditions and choose three favorites. Then, find a picture that best represents each of the three traditions. If these are digital pictures, please email them to your child. Their address is their user name @cudahystudents.org. For most students their username is their first initial and last name. For instance, John Doe would be jdoe@cudahystudents.org. If the pictures are prints, please send the pictures to school with your child and I will convert them into digital pictures.
The students will also be building a family tree. Please work with your child to assemble the names and birth/death dates of their family. Go back as far as you are able, but only include parents/grandparents/great-grandparents/etc. Not aunts or uncles. Pictures of each person would add interest to the family tree; please send or email any photographs of the people mentioned.
Talk with your child about some of his/her favorite family traditions and choose three favorites. Then, find a picture that best represents each of the three traditions. If these are digital pictures, please email them to your child. Their address is their user name @cudahystudents.org. For most students their username is their first initial and last name. For instance, John Doe would be jdoe@cudahystudents.org. If the pictures are prints, please send the pictures to school with your child and I will convert them into digital pictures.
The students will also be building a family tree. Please work with your child to assemble the names and birth/death dates of their family. Go back as far as you are able, but only include parents/grandparents/great-grandparents/etc. Not aunts or uncles. Pictures of each person would add interest to the family tree; please send or email any photographs of the people mentioned.
Valentine's Day Party
Our class will be exchanging Valentine’s cards on February 14. If you are planning to send cards with your child, please be sure to send one for everyone to avoid any hurt feelings.
Class List
Antonio
Bri
Makayla
Grace
Alexandra
Esteban
Aubree
Thomas
Samantha
Dakota
Michael
|
Cheyenne
Dylan
Austin
Hunter
Ashlyn
Sebastian
Vanessa
Isabella
Zachary
Dominic
|
10th Anniversary Library Events
Monday, February 11, 6:30-8:30pm: Mary Todd Lincoln: The Widow Reflects-
Mrs. Lincol recalls her genteel girlhood in Lexington, Kentucky, her marriage to the gangly young lwaayer, and her rise to become the First Lady.
Saturday, March 23, 1:30pm: Hug the Library
Tuesday, April 23, 6:30-8:00pm: Wisconsin Outlaws:
Mrs. Lincol recalls her genteel girlhood in Lexington, Kentucky, her marriage to the gangly young lwaayer, and her rise to become the First Lady.
Saturday, March 23, 1:30pm: Hug the Library
Tuesday, April 23, 6:30-8:00pm: Wisconsin Outlaws:
Hug Your Library
Come celebrate the Cudahy Family Library's 10th birthday and give the library a big HUG!
On March 23, at 1:30, the library will prepare a 300-person human chain to reach around and hug the building. Refreshmenets to follow.
The Cudahy school with the largest number of students attending will win a $300 donation from the Friends of the Cudahy Library and one lucky person will win a Kindle Fire!
On March 23, at 1:30, the library will prepare a 300-person human chain to reach around and hug the building. Refreshmenets to follow.
The Cudahy school with the largest number of students attending will win a $300 donation from the Friends of the Cudahy Library and one lucky person will win a Kindle Fire!
Monday, February 4
Book Orders
Book orders were sent home today. If you would like to order, please have them turned in with payment by Friday. As always, you can order online at www.scholastic.com. Our class activation code is: GVWB3
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