CAMPUS INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
  • Blog
  • About
  • Contact
  • In the news
  • Resources

Self.Organized.Learning.Environments

12/17/2016

0 Comments

 
This week we worked in SOLE groups to find out about many things. We took notes and creatively presented what we found out to our classmates, in art with Miss Cohen and to help us with work in our exploration stations. 
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
After one group shared and told us their new question, "Why do clouds have water in them?" Another group raised their hand and said, "Oh, we found the answer to that when we researched." 

During the SOLE process, many new questions get answered by other groups.

Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
After learning about Louise Nevelson during our unit, How We Express Ourselves, we worked with Miss Cohen (art teacher) to try this style of art out. We discovered that not only does this connect with forms of expression, but Louise Nevelson knew how to take nothing and turn it into something...ideas and knowledge inspire creativity and action.

Our favorite quote by Louise Nevelson: Art is everywhere, except it has to pass through a creative mind. 
Picture
Picture
Picture
 We had lots of math writing and investigations this week. Our new unit on measurement is not one you can do with just a workbook. You  have to use your hands, and boy did we! I should've asked parents to pack swimming suits. We had so much water, I didn't have time to take pictures. 

Have your child practice at home with these units:
  1. Length (customary); inches, half-inches and quarter inches, feet and yards (metric units) centimeters, meters (we will learn more later)
  2. Liquid Volume; (customary units) cup, pint, quart, half-gallon, gallon (metric units) liter, milliliter 
  3. Weight (mass); (customary units) pounds, ounces (metric units) kilograms, grams

Picture
Picture
Picture
Our winter concert was canceled due to the snow day. Glad we were able to have fun on stage rehearsing for it. They get such a kick out of me doing "their dances." How did I become the adult who can't dance? Why do they laugh when I show them the stuff we did in the 80's and 90's? That was real dancing. Oh well! At least I know how to make them laugh. Emma and Ila are dying over me doing "The Dab."
Picture
This is all of grade 3 rehearsing at Waetjen Auditorium at Cleveland State University. I love that we get to perform here. Next year, we'll be even closer!! 
Picture
Coco is so good about putting her holiday outfit on. Hope you are enjoying this time of the year as much as we are! 
0 Comments

Exploring our new unit, How the World Works

12/10/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
How the World Works
Central Idea: Energy and matter exist in different forms and interact in various ways
Key Concepts: Form, Change, Causation
Lines of Inquiry:
The properties of matter and energy
Changes in states of matter
Earth's nonliving resources can be used for energy


Attributes we hope to build on:  Inquirer and Thinker
Attitudes we hope to show: Curiosity and Cooperation
Skills we hope to develop: Research and Social
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Provocation with all of grade 3 in Ms. McCarthy and Ms. McCafferty's classroom
Picture
Picture
Picture
Question: Does air have mass?
Picture
How do the molecules in hot and cold air move? 
Cool lessons demonstrated by our IB Coordinator, Mrs. Hochman. 

Picture
What is dry ice and how does it form?
Picture
Picture
Dry ice with soap
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Formulating questions to start our unit. These questions came out of our Think, Puzzle, Explore activity. As we move deeper into this unit, our questions will become "Thicker." Ask your child what's the difference between a "Thin" and "Thick" question.
Picture
Picture
Picture
Finding out about Liquid Volume
Picture
Picture
Hour of Code!!
Picture
Summarizing what we're reading independently
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
We enjoyed having Ms. Lockett come in to read to us, as a way to celebrate Yazmeen's birthday! 
0 Comments

Penelope visits again as we move into new units for December

12/3/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
Picture
Picture
Not only did we walk in our classroom to find Penelope our Peace Fairy on December 1st, but our room was a winter wonderland! Students love the winter stool cushions!
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
I love this book, Phileas's Fortune about self-expression and the power of words!! Thanks, Delaney for taking action and sharing it. The last time I read this was when I had Delaney's brother. I can still see his red cheeks when I read the last page. 
Picture
This book is so special to me and I always love to share it. This was the first time I had a student who was so moved by the book, she went home and wrote a story connecting it to our class and then created an airplane. Thanks, Tristan! We enjoyed your story and demonstration! You have such a big heart! The airplane is hanging high in the front of our room to always remind us of Tristan's action and the Wonders that we are!
Picture
Picture
Picture
We started measurement this week in math. This connects to our new unit of inquiry, How the World Works.
Picture
Picture
Alta took action and used what she knew about measurement to make rice krispie treats (and lucky for us, she brought them in to share). She then decided to use this knowledge as the topic for her informational book in writing workshop. That's being a Thinker!
Picture
For this unit on Informational Writing, students have to think of topics they are ALREADY experts on. Something they know so well, they could teach it to someone else. 

We are using different formats to organize our writing. Ask your child if they are organizing their book in:
  • Boxes and Bullets 
  • Pros and Cons
  • Cause and Effect
Picture
Picture
When we organize an Informational Text, we use sub-topics  (or chapters) to show different:
  • kinds
  • parts
  • examples
  • ways
The sub-topics can be organized with different structures to match the information:
  • a pro and a con section
  • a partly the same and partly different section
  • a part that is told in sequential order...1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th
The sub-topics can be organized with narratives that teach  information for each section
  • The whole chapter could be written as a story
  • There could be a small moment used as evidence to support a point
  • There could be a story that begins or ends a chapter

Point out different types of informational books to your child at home. Explain the different ways authors of informational books organize their topics.
Picture
Picture
We are summarizing for the month of December....for homework and in reading groups. Check out the new summarizing writing stems in your child's binder. We practiced setting up our new responses for homework using the story, Kamishibai Man.
Picture
For homework, they need to answer the questions based on whether it's a fiction or nonfiction book they are reading. Then, they will use their answers to the questions, to guide them with writing a summary in paragraph form. I would like to see both parts in their journal or on Kidblog. They only need to respond to one story/chapter a week. 
Picture
Picture
Picture
0 Comments

    Author:
    ​Dora Bechtel

    Welcome to my Campus International School blog.  Campus International is an International Baccalaureate School on the campus of Cleveland State University in Cleveland, Ohio.  

    As Instructional Leader at CIS, I am able to enjoy the learning  taking place in all classrooms K-8. This blog will give you a glimpse into our wonderful world of learning through inquiry, and share some strategies you can use with your child/students.

    Picture
    May 25th Newsletter
    YMCA Summer camp

    Archives:
    http://cissecondgrade.weebly.com/bechtel

    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014

    Visitor Map
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.