How to Understand Charts and Graphs? Make Them!

"A picture is worth a thousand words."

That was our motto as we learned about charts and graphs.

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• First of all, we learned how to "read" charts and graphs.
• Then we did a group project called, "Where Do Our Clothes Come From?"
• Then we were ready to venture out and ask our fellow schoolmates our personal survey questions.

 

"Do you like bugs?" he asked his sister.

"What kind of pet do you have?" she asked her brother.

"What is your favorite food?"

"What is your favorite color?"

"How many languages do you know?"

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We kept track of the answers:

"What is your favorite color?"

"What kind of pet do you have?"

"Do You Like Bugs?" no, yes, kinda

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We made a bar graph on graph paper.

It included a title and labels for the x and y axis.

"Where Do Our Clothes Come From?"

"What Is Your Favorite Food?"

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We made computerized graphs using Create-a-Graph

(Each student made a bar, line, area, and pie graph.)

"What Is Your Favorite Food?"

"How Many Pets Does Your Class Have?"

"Where Do Our Clothes Come From?"

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We also did a little world geography for "Where Do Our Clothes Come From?" 

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We showed our graphs to our friends.

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We invited the fifth graders to come see our displays of graphs. 

The Navigators were so proud of themselves.

The fifth graders were quite impressed, too.

Real math. Real school. Gifted education. 

Anatomy STEAM: First Graders Make Cell Mobiles

To begin our study of human anatomy, we started with the basic cells.

 There are over 200 different types of cells in the human body. 

We carefully colored some of the cells. 

We looked at the mobile designs of Alexander Calder to get some inspiration for making our own mobiles. 

We had a variety of supplies from the MakerSpace to choose from. 

One of the biggest choices was what to use for the horizontal beams of our mobiles.

He chose a combination of chop sticks and pipe cleaners.

Pipe cleaners are always a winner.

They can even make a sign!

Tape came in handy.

Having fun.

They looked awesome hanging above our desks!

"Ta da!"

This one won the longest design. 

"Look at mine!"

Using a microscope, we looked closely at some body cells.

We then drew the cell on our lab reports. 

STEAM at its best: 

Science: 

cells-->tissue-->organ-->system-->us!

Technology:

using the microscopes and 

watching Magic School Bus Goes Cellular

Engineering: 

using supplies to make a balanced, hanging mobile

Art: 

these are absolutely works of art!

Math: 

          measuring the length of string and the weight of each cell                

Beautiful Earth Day Poetry

To celebrate Earth Day, the Navigators each wrote a poem. 

They used beautiful words.

"Let's Love Life"

They drew beautiful illustrations.

"I love seeing chicks that run around."

They wrote about their unique, beautiful passions.

"I love giant centipedes!"

They were very careful and used beautiful colors.

They read their beautiful poems to their second grade friends.

"I love wet trees, you know, 

that shine like diamonds in the sun?"

Another beautiful poem.

 

"I love the Earth..."

This boy has the unique passion of learning foreign languages 

and is teaching himself how to speak Russian on YouTube!

The beautiful diversity of people.

Her poem focused specifically on water.

For sure, "let's take care of the water."

Carefully read the beautiful things 

and the great adjectives that this boy loves. 

It was a beautiful experience to share our poetry

 and to hear the second graders' poems. 

The first graders had a beautiful, impromptu dance 

with their second grade friends. 

This generation is going to make a difference.

"I love the Earth and all of the things in it!"

Children often say it best:

"Let's take care of the Earth!"