Coming soon... Person I Admire 2011

Fall 2011 iMadonnari

After Edward Hopper's Approaching the City...

His:

Ours...

Leonardo da Vinci reminds our science students that, "All our knowledge has its origins in our perceptions."

What a pleasure to begin the year with an in depth study of the Renaissance Man's contribution to the world of science! Did you know that many of the inventions that Leonardo da Vinci envisioned in the 1400s are in use today? Helicopters and parachutes and many other modern day wonders began on one of Leonardo's 6000 "idea journal" pages. Leonardo believed that great ideas began with an observation that lead to curiosity. Observational drawing is a scientific skill and a powerful tool to teach the value of concentrated patient perseverance.Read more about this skill here:

http://fourandtwenty.typepad.com/blog/2011/08/da-vinci-summer-ii-listen-with-your-eyes.html

Math Lab #1 The Great Ice-Cream Investigation

What have poetry and ice-cream got to do with patterns in math?

Ask our students!

This year, once a month, students will participate in an in-depth, two-hour exploration of patterns math. These activities will provide opportunities to connect complex concepts in math.

This first activity focused on the (x, y) intercept and plotting slope as it connected to Shel Siverstein's Eighteen flavors:

Eighteen Flavors

Eighteen luscious, scrumptious flavors

Chocolate, lime and cherry,

Coffee, pumpkin, fudge banana

Caramel cream and boysenberry.

Rocky road and toasted almond,

Butterscotch, vanilla dip,

Butter brickle, apple ripple,

Coconut and mocha chip,

Brandy peach and lemon custard,

Each scoop lovely, smooth and round,

Tallest ice cream cone in town,

Lying there (sniff) on the ground.

Thank you Mr. Nichols!

Farmer Boy

Farmer Boy grabs the attention of our 6th Grade boys. This is the second time that I have explored this book with an all boy group and I am, once again, taken aback by their enthusiasm for the story. In our discussion, the boys are fascinated by the responsibilities that Almanzo takes on and by the appetite that his daily chores produces! More work = more food!