We're All Back Home Again and We're On a Roll!

 With Covid-19 numbers on the rise in our county, the decision was made to go all virtual again. Although it took a lot of prep, the move was quite smooth because:

1. We've done it before.
2. For the most part, our daily schedule remains the same. 
3. We're sent home with all we need to have a Seabury education.
4. First and second graders are quite resilient.
5. Our first project was making something using wheels and axles, and, as we all know... 

"Simple machines make work easier!"

All packed up, ready to move out.

Math manipulatives? check

Math games? check

Book Club books? check

Words Their Way? check

Two months worth of morning work? check

Simple Machine kits? check

Music rhythm instrument? check

Art supply box? check

PE games box? check

Mini-MakerSpace? check

A fidget toy? check

Personal belongings? check

...and Mystery Cemetery for our 

upcoming archaeology study? check

Here  you can clearly see (well not clearly) that education is happening. 

All these contraptions have wheels and axles that actually work.

As you can see, the Navigators are on a roll, 

rolling smoothly into Distance Learning.

Watch out, here we go!

Place Value Extraordinaire

Place value is such a foundational concept in mathematics. We spend quite a bit of time working with  and talking about big numbers, what each "place" means, how to read and write numbers, and how to manipulate numbers properly. We do this is a variety of ways. Here are a few of the activities we have done. 

Playing with Exploding Dots on our white boards.

Watch the intro here and see if you can figure it out.

Playing with Exploding Dots on the computer.

https://www.explodingdots.org/

Regrouping using base 5 blocks!

Doing a google docs PBL (project based learning)

called "Run a Candy Store". 

We not only reviewed what we already know about place value, 

but we learned many computer skills as well. 

Some opted to do the hand-written version:

Many of these gifted  students will go on to do something 

in math, computer, and science fields. 

My goal, as a first and second grade teacher, is to give the Navigators a strong foundation to build on. 

Using a Pulley: The Joy of Discovery

Each of our lessons on Simple Machines takes on its own character. "Playing" with our pulleys has been the most investigative, trouble-shooting, engaging activities so far.

And when they learn that they get to keep their pulley, you'd think it's their birthday or that they get a trip to Disneyland!

This time our mission is to lift a load using a pulley. 

It's based on the children's picture book, How to Lift a Lion. 

Here are our works in progress:

"Hmmm. what can I use in my Mini-MakerSpace box?"

Each child receives a Beanie Baby to lift. 

"What should I use for a platform for my lobster?"

Each design is unique. 

The Navigators at home get out their kits 

and Mini-MakerSpace boxes, too.

"My pulley works!"

"My animal is getting dizzy from spinning. 

How can I make it stop spinning?"

Another innovative way to anchor the pulley 

in order to lift a moose.

"How can I attach the string to my platform?" 

A flying cute crab!

Look at our scientific thinking: 

• coming up with ideas
• thinking outside the box
• drawing and labeling diagrams
• using scientific words
• problem solving
• going "back to the drawing board"
• learning from each other
• recognizing pulleys in the world around us

Collaborative Seabury learning at its best, 

albeit six feet apart and via Zoom!