Critical Thinking Skills: Paperclip Puzzles

Last week students worked both individually and with partners to solve paperclip puzzles.  The students had to follow the clues to make the correct paperclip chains.  Here are some pictures of the 3rd graders from D Day working together.  

Summer Camp/Classes Opportunities

I know many of you already have your summer planned out, but I thought I would put some links to learning opportunities on here just in case.  This list is not comprehensive.  Some of the activities are geared toward gifted children, but most of them are not.  I added links for opportunities around both MO and KS as some of you might have relatives in those areas; making it possible for your child to attend.  If you have already missed the registration deadlines for this year, make a note of the opportunity for next year.

Here are some links to summer opportunities:

Kansas City Camps/Classes:
http://www.mcckc.edu/classes/commed/maplewoods/collegeforkids.asp

http://www.kckidsfun.com/kansas-city-summer-camps-2013/

http://www.sciencecity.com/summercamp.html

http://www.pembrokehill.org/programs/summer-programs/index.aspx

http://www.kansascityymca.org/youth-development/camps

Camps/Classes throughout MO: 
http://www.stlcc.edu/Continuing-Education/Youth-Programs/College-for-Kids-M.html

http://ekmcounseling.weebly.com/summer-programs-for-giftedtalented-in-missouri.html

http://www.bearriverranch.com

Camps/Classes throughout KS:
http://www.wichita.edu/thisis/home/?u=engineeringcamps

SAGE Parent-Teacher Conferences

Please click on the following link to sign up for our spring conference: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AiLJxh4GYMkWdEJNd1R5bXNfdndNX2h5SVVtdE1xQkE#gid=0

I look forward to meeting with you,
Mrs. Chrane

Architecture Presentation

B Day students are doing a year-long unit where they will design a new school.  They have already figured out their mission statements, debated school uniforms, and set their daily schedules.  Now they are ready to design the blueprint of their school.  To help them, Michelle Chavey from Hollis and Miller Architects presented.  She discussed what it takes to be an architect and the process they use to design schools.   She ended her presentation with pictures of unique schools from around the world to get the students' creative juices flowing.   After her presentation, the students worked with their partners to record any ideas they had gained from the presentation.  Over the next few weeks, the students will design their school floor plans while keeping the mission of their school in mind.

Creative Problem Solving: Build the Tallest Tower

Working with partners, A Day students used their creative thinking skills (fluency, flexibility, originality, elaboration) to build the tallest tower.  They used a lot of flexible thinking as most of their first attempts were not successful.  I was proud of how they problem-solved and did not give up easily! 

Conflict Resolution Tower

To start off our affective unit on resolving conflict, we built a tower in groups of 3-4 students.  Then we talked about any conflicts that arose and how we handled them.  Some of our discussion questions:  What is the difference between conflict and a disagreement?  Is conflict inevitable?  Are all conflicts negative?

FBI/Engineering Presentation (E Day)

E Day students had a special speaker visit last week.  He spoke about his background and education in engineering, and his work with the FBI.   It was an excellent glimpse into both careers.  He even let the students try on his FBI vest.

A student looking at one of the speaker's inventions from when he was an engineer.  It is used as a type of radiator on satellites in space.