Module 3

1.    Our school's Energy Team will start and maintain a school wide recycling program.  We will be recycling white paper.

2.    As the sponsor for our Energy Team, I will be organizing the recycling program and my team members will help to execute the plan.  In addition to the Energy Team we will need cooperation from our custodial staff and classroom teachers. We will need each classroom to teacher to commit to having a recycle bin placed in their classrooms and we will need the custodians to help in emptying the recycle bins.

3.   

· PL-04-3.1.4 Students will identify and describe consumer actions (reusing, reducing, recycling) that impact the environment.


 ·      PL-05-3.1.4 Students will describe consumer actions (reusing, reducing,    recycling) and identify ways these actions impact the environment (e.g., conserving resources, reducing pollution, reducing solid waste)


 ·      RD-04-3.0.4 Students will identify main ideas and details that support them.


 ·      RD-05-3.0.4 Students will identify main ideas and details that support them.


 ·      T-I-ICP-S-P1 Students will develop, publish and present information in print and digital formats
 

4.    As a school we use a ton of white paper and unfortunately at the end of the day a lot of that paper simply goes into the trash.  By recycling students will become aware of the amount of paper we consume as a school.  By making students aware of the amount of paper we use we will be able to teach them how to conserve paper.  I hope that students will take what they learn about the benefits of recycling and conservation home and encourage their families to participate.  

5.    Our Energy Team meets once a week and will need one month to get the program up and running.  At our first meeting we will read informational text about recycling and its benefits.  We will also commit to the project at this meeting.  I'd like to have a guest speaker come to the next meeting to encourage the students to promote recycling.  At the third meeting students will design posters to advertise our school wide recycling plan.  Students will also create skits/commercials to advertise the program on the school's morning news show.  During the next week pairs of students will deliver recycling bins to each classroom and briefly talk to each class about how to use the recycling bin.  By our fourth meeting we will be going room to room to collect the recycling bins.

6.    In order to promote recycling and measure our program's success the Energy Team will weigh each class's bin when they pick it up.  The energy team students will chart and graph the weights each week.

7. At the end of each month one classroom will be announced as the winner for recycling the most paper.

Module 2 Reflection

I'm starting to see just how easy this is!  I'm inspired to create a class blog that parents and students could access from my school website.  The possibilities of all the things we could share are endless!  It would definitely enhance school-home communication.  It could also provide study material!  This is too cool!

Module 2

I just got back from a very informative rocks and minerals workshop in Georgetown, KY so I thought I would look for a related video.  I found this song about the three different types of rocks.  I think the kids will like it because it has a more modern sound.  It may even inspire them to create their own song!

Up and Running!

Try, try and try again.  Finally up and running!

Assignment #1

I currently teach 4th grade math and science.  We use the Everyday Math program which engages students in several ways.  We begin our class with a "warm-up" where students record their answers to metal math questions on a dry erase board, or sometimes orally.  The program promotes partnerships and the use of math manipulatives.  It also provides review of basic facts through games which the kids love.  My science class is very hands on as it is my goal for my students to see how science occurs in their daily lives.  With every unit I do science centers where students work in small groups and sometimes independently on different tasks.  In my centers and in my science class I incorporate art, music, dance, reading, writing, and math skills.  We do lots of different activities throughout the school year working in pairs, doing experiments in the lab, doing group and solo presentations and so much more.  One way we use technology in science class is to review our content with the Turning Points system.  The kids love the instant feedback they get from this.  I realize I haven't said anything about the text I'm reading for this class and that's because I am still waiting for it to arrive.  Hopefully it will be here by the end of the day!

Testing

I just wanted to test this our before starting my work.  Let's see what happens!