Writing with Legos

I was graciously invited to come into the fifth grade classrooms to teach them how to use the new Lego Story Visualizer Kits. Mrs. Skold and I teamed up to combine the Lego kits with a writing project.  The students eyes lit up at the chance to use the Legos to create a story!  Everyone was focused and hard at work!

Groups of students received a bucket of specialized Legos to create story scenes.  They used a random spinner to add an element of surprise into the Lego blocks and accessories that they used in their story.  After brainstorming the story, they created scenes for a story map using the Legos.  Next, they took pictures and used an iPad program to write and illustrate their tales. 


One class wrote stories about standing up for a cause or a group. The students in the other class were given the task of creating a story based on a basic human right. This was the focus of their first unit in their reading curriculum.  Below are some of the stories.

This was a great introduction to these Lego Kits.  We already have a few more ideas for expanding the use of these kits in the future.

http://iphone.childrenslibrary.org/cgi-bin/view.py?b=mvphdq7w7zgj756xlvng

http://iphone.childrenslibrary.org/cgi-bin/view.py?b=x4i4wvmxyqnshz5w7vys

End of Week One

The first week of school has flown by.  Resource Room activities this week included work on getting the some of the extra-curricular activities in motion. 

Math
Highland Catholic School will again offer Math Masters teams for students in fifth and sixth grades.  Seventh and eighth grade students will have the opportunity to compete in the Junior High Math League with neighboring schools.  This involves a series of five competitions.  An additional team will also compete in the Math Counts competition.

Reading
Three years ago, Battle of the Books began at Highland Catholic School.  I will once again be offering this reading incentive program.  All fifth-eighth grade students are invited to participate.  Teams are formed at each grade level and everyone busily reads their division's titles. In May,, the competition is held and teams are quizzed about the books. Winning teams are determined at each grade level and then the winning teams from fifth and sixth grade face off as do the winning teams from seventh and eighth grade.  This is a fun event for everyone.  Last year, we had team colors, cheers, songs and more.

Art
Young Rembrandts is now accepting registrations for after school drawing classes.  These will begin in early October.

Destination Imagination
This is a creativity and problem solving competition that has teams of seven students completing a challenge, creating a skit and performing their solution.  Team managers and team members are currently being recruited.  The challenges this year look fabulous.