Biography Fair

Biography Fair has taken over the library!  After the official event for friends and family, the students leave their boards in display in the library for awhile so other kids can have a closer look.  I have a full day of classes tomorrow and they are going to be excited to see this!  

Research and presenting

In enrichment this session we are learning about different ways to research and then how to present what you've learned.  First step, how to find in formation in the library.  These kids were excited to learn about the Dewey Decimal System.

Voting

Voting has begun for the Red Clover books.  So far The Blue Whale and Glamourpuss are in the lead!

BB-8 Wrap-up

We got to play with a Sphero BB-8 robot for a month through the Vermont Robot Rodeo program.  The kids were pretty excited!  Ok, I was too!  Each class got a turn to see it and help me program it.  I was hoping to let each kid get a turn to program it individually during the time we had it, but unfortunately that didn't work out. It became difficult to manage one robot/iPad shared across an entire class of overly excited students.  I did try to get it into as many hands as manageable though.  Some students earned time with the robot for good CSR behavior and others were allowed to use BB-8 during their agreed upon break times.  We also used BB-8 and Dash for the enrichment group project.

The 4th and 5th graders, and the 2nd and 3rd graders, were tasked with creating an obstacle course and programming BB-8 to complete the course.  I also asked them to take photos and videos of the process so we could compile them into a final project to present.

The 4/5 group created their course using masking tape, cardboard, felt, Imagination Playground blocks, and Keva planks.  The 2/3 group experimented with masking tape tracks, unifix components, and Imagination Playground blocks and tracks.

We all learned a few valuable lessons!

• The Sphero BB-8 robot is harder to control than any of us expected!
• It's easy to create a cool track, but frustrating each time you have to simplify it for the robot.
• Eight-eleven kids trying to share one robot/iPad is tricky.  I brought in my Dash robot to help alleviate this problem, but the kids still really wanted to make BB-8 run the obstacle course!
• Dash is a lot easier to control and more predictable with it's behaviors.
• Technology troubles are super frustrating!  We had battery issues with Dash, "head" issues with BB-8, connectivity issues with both, and always the risk of low battery.
• Programming is fun!!

The 4th and 5th graders compiled their videos and photos into a final presentation to share:

The 2nd and 3rd graders ran out of time to make their movie, so I pulled their videos and photos together into a presentation:

With a lot of time and missed recesses (their choice), the 4/5 group was able to get BB-8 to mostly complete the track they had designed, with a few track modifications (removed ramps and stage).  The 2/3 group went through several track revisions and ran out of time to finish the track.  They had more difficulty with the programming as well.  Lots to learn for all of us!

I'm planning to keep Dash at school, or maybe buy a school one so my kids can have theirs back!  We also have Lego WeDos available, and EV3s for the more advanced programmers.  Everyone agreed that enrichment group is fun and robots are cool.  :)

We love to read

A student made me a sign for the library.  I love it!   It's now hanging on the window next to the door so kids in the hallway can read it.  😊

Collaboration

Fifth grade brought their Biome projects into the library to create iMovies with sound effects and narration. 

Meet the Dullards - the extra boring edition

Meet the Dullards, by Sara Pennypacker, just might win our Red Clover Book Award voting next month.  This books appeals to elementary kids of all ages right from the cover.  Thanks to oddly drawn characters, a dog on a ball, and a call-out claiming the book to be an "Extra Boring Edition!!", kids are hooked and want to read more!

Mr. and Mrs. Dullard are quite dull, but the kids... well, you need to keep a close eye on them!  The Dullards take books away from their children in favor of plain paper, have their children watch a powered-off television, and even request vanilla ice cream with no vanilla.  The students think this is all pretty hysterical.  One little preschooler even went home and tried to tell her mom all about the book, leaving her mother quite confused!  :)

The text tells us that in the end the Dullards go to bed quite content in the knowledge that their children are perfect bores... but the illustrations show something a little different.  Read it and find out!

We Forgot Brock!

We Forgot Brock!, by Carter Goodrich, is another one of this year's Red Clover Book Award nominees and the children are loving it!  Phillip and Brock are best friends, but we quickly learn that not everyone can see Brock.  The whole family goes to the fair one day and while Phillip gets sleepy and his parents bring him home, Brock is not tired at all and ready to ride "the Brain Shaker!" When Phillip arrives at home and realizes that Brock is not there, he is devastated.  He spends the next few days looking everywhere for Brock.  Meanwhile, Brock meets a little girl named Anne who takes him home and tries to make him happy.

 

Anne, of course, has her own imaginary friend named Princess Sparkle Dust.  I love this image the most because EVERY SINGLE CLASS commented that the two imaginary friends were in love.  Without any prompting on my part, at least one kid in each class pointed out that the red cheeks means he loves her and her eyes and purple circles means she loves him.  I love it!

I don't want to spoil the story for you, but it does turn out ok and everyone ends up happy in the end!  Including all the kids who have read it.  :)

Getting creative

Third graders pulled out the Imagination Playground blocks to augment their BB-8 track today.  It was great to hear their ideas develop and see the teamwork!  We have one more week with BB-8 before we have to send him on his way.

Above the desk

I like these vinyl walk stickers.  I'm hanging quotes up all around the library.  This is above the check-out desk, and above the Very Hungry Caterpillar the last librarian made.  😁

Teamwork!

Second and third graders building an obstacle course for BB-8 and Dash.  This is what learning looks like!

Snack!

The Related Arts team can pull together a pretty awesome staff meeting snack table, if so do say so myself. 😁

Fun with BB-8

Some first graders earned extra time with BB-8 this week!  

Taking apart BB-8

We can't take apart our BB-8, but we can watch someone else do it!  The robot makes a lot more sense when you know how it works inside!