Fifth grader teaches his classmates about Scratch Coding!

We've been practicing getting information from pictures. We've read several non-fiction books and were able to get facts from the pictures in those books. This week, we are reading pictures of fiction books. We read the wordless book Stormy as a class. The teacher modeled how to use the pictures to tell a story and then the students took their turn reading to a puppet. They did a great job! 

Fifth graders are doing some coding prep this week using Turing Tumbles to problem solve. Each challenge gives an objective, an output, and each set of partners needs to use the proper pieces to reach the objective. It's definitely a challenge and will only get increasingly difficult but I know they are up to the task!

Fourth and fifth graders used the design thinking process to create this week! In the design thinking process we think about an issue, define it, ideate, build a prototype, test it, and make adjustments to our plan as needed. Fourth graders created animals and fifth graders designed prototypes of playground equipment with Strawbees! I think we have some future engineers in our midst!

Skokie Public Library has shared detail on their Winter Reading program. 
As in years past, there will be BINGO-style cards available in the library and on the bookmobile. Completing five in a row (across, up or down, or diagonally) earns ALL participants a winter reading button (limit 5). Completing the whole card earns Skokie residents and additional incentive, while supplies last. Stop by the library or book mobile (Fridays after school) to get your card and start reading!

Third Grade Boxitects: After Reading two stories about creating with boxes, 3rd grade started using the Design Thinking Process to brainstorm problems in which they could build a prototype to help. We had many amazing creations!