5th Grade STEAM Project

The Benton Community 5th grade* students have chosen some projects to help the University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital. We are collecting Fleece for tie blankets and quilting fabric for pillowcases and Care Caps.

We would like bright colors and fun prints/designs to brighten the patient rooms and days.

• Fleece in sizes of one yard or larger
• Quilting Fabric in sizes of approximately one yard

We recently held a Pajama Day and students raised $170 dollars to purchase fabric! Way to go Bobcats!

*One class choose a slightly different project, so stay tuned for more information on that student-led project.

Follow the Flow

Sixth graders are learning about how water and gravity work in our STEAM challenge "Follow the Flow." The challenge is based on the 2000-year-old Banaue Rice Terraces in the Philippines. 

Photo by CEphoto, Uwe Aranas

The goal is to use water to move 10 beads from the top layer to the bottom layer to get the most points. However, the materials used have a point cost. While every group has the same material list, each group is able to decide which materials to "purchase" and use in their model. Check out some of the students' works below (and note they are still in the process of building).

Here is the introduction video I shared with students:

Lesson plans from the 2017 Fluor Engineering Challenge. 

Priority Standards for October 5-13

4th grade Lab Digital Citizenship Pre-assessment 21.3-5.TL.5 Understand and practice appropriate, legal, and safe uses of technology for lifelong learning.	4th grade STEAM Rotations with Mindstorms littleBits & Snap Circuits Keva Blocks
5th grade Lab Using Email continued 21.3-5.TL.5 Understand and practice appropriate, legal, and safe uses of technology for lifelong learning.	5th grade STEAM Student-directed project
6th grade Lab Glogster continued 21.6-8.TL.3 Plan strategies utilizing digital tools to gather, evaluate, and use information.	6th grade STEAM Flour Challenge 2017 “Follow the Flow” Overview video link

Battle of the Books

Do you like reading and have a competitive side? Mrs. Speer is looking for Fifth and Sixth grade students who want to participate in Battle of the Books. 

Important Info:

• Teams will be up 4 members answering questions about the books on the reading list.
• There are 20 books and the team will decide how to split up the reading.
• Students will write and submit questions for the books on the list as a way to prepare for the contest.
• The contest is Saturday, April 7 in Winterset, Iowa.

Battle of the Books Reading List 2018

• A Night Divided by Jennifer A. Nielsen
• Finding Fortune by Delia Ray
• Full Cicada Moon by Marilyn Hilton
• Fuzzy Mud by Louis Sachar
• Ghost by Jason Reynolds
• I Will Always Write Back by Caitlin Alifirenka & Martin Ganda with Liz Welch
• If You're Reading This by Trent Reedy
• In the Shadow of Liberty by Kenneth C. Davis
• Lincoln's Grave Robbers by Steve Sheinkin
• Lost in the Sun by Lisa Graff
• March:  Book One by John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, and Nate Powell
• Mark of the Dragonfly by Jaleigh Johnson
• My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George
• One Safe Place by Tania Unsworth
• Paper Things by Jennifer Richard Jacobsen
• Stella By Starlight by Sharon M. Draper
• The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill
• The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin
• Wolf Hollow by Lauren Wolk
• Zane and the Hurricane by Rodman Philbrick

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Welcome Back!

Hello Bobcat Family!

I am excited to share that I will be teaching in Norway Elementary every day this year. I will continue to see all students in the Computer Lab and STEAM space. In addition, I will be working with BTAG students.

As you may know, I had a baby boy in May. Here are my adorable boys on our first camping trip as a family of four. Michael is enjoying being a big brother to baby Joel.

Priority Standards for May 12-19

Grade
AK	Reading Games Use technology to create projects, identify patterns, and make predictions. -I can use technology to support my learning.
Kindergarten	Math Games Use technology to create projects, identify patterns, and make predictions. -I can use technology to support my learning.
1st grade	Code.org Use technology to create projects, identify patterns, and make predictions. -I can use technology to support my learning. -I can use technology to see patterns and make predictions.
2nd grade	Atkins Mini Research Project *sharing continued* Utilize predetermined digital resources and tools to answer questions or solve problems. -I can follow a plan to find information using digital tools. Keyboarding Practice Supports keyboarding skills as part of the ELA curriculum
3rd grade	Atkins: Keyboarding Practice Supports keyboarding skills as part of the ELA curriculum Keystone: Code.org Use technology to create projects, identify patterns, and make predictions. -I can use technology to support my learning. -I can use technology to see patterns and make predictions.
4th grade	Word Cloud Use technology resources to create original projects, identify patterns, make predictions, and propose solutions. - I can work individually and collaboratively to create, display, publish, or perform technology projects. -Also supports keyboarding skills as part of the ELA curriculum
5th grade	Word Cloud Understand technology hardware and software system operations and their application. - I can choose the right technology for a task. Understand and practice appropriate, legal, and safe uses of technology for lifelong learning. - I can use technology to assist my learning.

Priority Standards for May 4-11

Grade
AK	Reading Games Use technology to create projects, identify patterns, and make predictions. -I can use technology to support my learning.
Kindergarten	Math Games Use technology to create projects, identify patterns, and make predictions. -I can use technology to support my learning.
1st grade	Online Books: BookFlix and Tumblebooks Use technology to create projects, identify patterns, and make predictions. -I can use technology to support my learning.
2nd grade	Mini Research Project *sharing* Utilize predetermined digital resources and tools to answer questions or solve problems. -I can follow a plan to find information using digital tools.
3rd grade	Atkins: Keyboarding Practice Supports keyboarding skills as part of the ELA curriculum Keystone: Code.org Use technology to create projects, identify patterns, and make predictions. -I can use technology to support my learning. -I can use technology to see patterns and make predictions.
4th grade	Friendly Letters {Students will create and type a friendly letter.} continued Students will write and type friendly letters. -Supports keyboarding skills as part of the ELA curriculum
5th grade	Flow Charts continued Understand technology hardware and software system operations and their application. - I can choose the right technology for a task.
6th grade	Using Excel Spreadsheets continued Demonstrate creative thinking in the design and development of innovative technology products and problem solving. - I can work individually and collaboratively to create and display, publish, or perform products. - I can create and share new ideas and products related to curriculum content. Plan strategies utilizing digital tools to gather, evaluate, and use information. -I can locate and utilize information from a variety of sources.