CATAPULTS ARE COOL- FOCUS ON 4th GRADE!

For 5 weeks our awesome 4th graders have used Lego products to explore the properties of levers, specifically the relationships between fulcrum, load and effort.

Then, this week came the big testing day. We had to determine which catapult would send "Lego Mrs. Ford" the farthest. We discussed and created a fair test for these and set it up. Which do you think would throw me the farthest??

                                   

          (PS: Look closely at the placement of the FULCRUM in relation to the LOAD!)

Testing was particularly fun and we were lucky to have an awesome parent volunteer, Jessica Robin, who happens to be a National Science Foundation scientist!  How perfect for our first "fair test" of the year!

Our visiting scientist, Jessica Robin.

Visiting scientist Jessica Robin noted the importance of having multiple people take measurements.

Setting up the launch pad.

Take a look at a few of our trials. We will be analyzing these as a class next week to see if we can find ways that we could have made our methods better, and possibly get more consistent results. But mainly, it's always fun as a teacher to see kids so engaged in fun learning:).

                                                                       (Duckett's Class)

                          (George's Class--- and I need to learn to whisper while holding a phone!)

So.... Let's just say we will be taking some time to look at this data next week. Some data-loves may cringe when looking at the numbers below. However, I see this as the PERFECT opportunity to truly evaluate our design and see what could have caused us to have such varying results. I videoed each trial so we will watch our videos for clues. (I have a few ideas but it will be fun to watch our budding scientists figure it out!) Stay tuned for their thoughts!

Ms. Duckett's class data shows something in our methods caused these results. It will give us more to talk about!

 

 

Until next time!
Mrs. Ford

IN OTHER NEWS.....

If I could jump post back-surgery.... I would be!!!!

I always update on what is happening IN the classroom. However, I wanted to take a moment to share a few exciting opportunities I'm part of, and add a little context to a few of the days I may be out of the classroom in the coming months. ( Don't worry, it's only one or two days... but the chances are priceless!)

I'm now a Next Generation Science Standard (NGSS) Curator for the NSTA!
Two years ago, I worked with the American Federation of Teachers to help review the Next Generation Science Standards-- standards that I believe will change the face of science education nationwide. In addition to working with OSSE on potential plans for implementation of these, I found out Friday that I was chosen as one of 50 educators nationwide to serve as a Curator for the NGSS for the National Science Teacher Association! There were over 650 applicants too! In November I'm being flown to North Carolina to attend the NSTA National Conference and work with my cohort. My role will be compiling resources for educators across the country. Specifically, I've been chosen for the K-2nd grade cohort and will be working on the "Waves: Light and Sound" units. Because I get to take part in all of this, I will truly be able to bring the very best back to Maury and to DCPS. I am BEYOND honored and thrilled.

I'm chairing a Teacher Advisory Group for the National Center on Teacher Quality!
Last month,  I was selected to Chair  10-educator panel of teachers for the National Center on Teacher Quality (www.nctq.com)! From their website: Teacher Advisors contribute crucial perspectives to the work that NCTQ does, helping to bridge the gap between policy and practice.  I recently had a conference call with these educators and was blown away by the breadth of experience they each have. I cannot wait to learn from and work with this group. Again, I hope to bring as much learning as I can back to Maury students and DCPS as a whole. Can you find me on the page?? :)


Engineering is Elementary is HERE!
I've attended ( and will attend two more) Boston Museum of Science "Engineering is Elementary" trainings!  This year's 4th graders will be completing an INCREDIBLE unit where they will truly become Green Engineers, creating solar ovens that can cook S'Mores AND have low environmental impact. 3rd Graders will become Environmental Engineers learning about what it takes to clean up an oil spill. ( Yup, that's right. THIRD GRADERS! ) Later in the year, 1st graders will become Civil Engineers, building strong, stable bridges. These engineering units, in addition to our already wonderful Society for Automobile Engineering "A World in Motion Units" are truly putting Maury at the cutting edge of engineering education in elementary schools. GO US!

                   CLICK HERE FOR A SNEAK PEAK FROM THEIR WEBSITE!

I bet some of you are thinking, "How can she plan and teach our kids effectively if she is involved in all of these extracurricular things?". My answer is not to worry:). I promise that not only will you see the same, energetic Mrs. Ford you always do, but I'll be gaining more content knowledge, have even bigger networks of resources for your children, and will be freshly inspired to bring the best there is to the students in DC.

YAY!!!!!!

PS: Are YOU inspired now? Do you have time during the day? Come on in and volunteer! Just email me at vanessa.ford@dc.gov

Until next time!
-Mrs. Ford

Maury Monarch Madness Updates!

                                     The 4th grade caught Ms. Sweeney's "Hermoine" pupating!

From larva to chrysalis!

Hello all Maury Monarch lovers! Now in our 3rd year, Maury Monarch Madness has taken over our wonderful school. So far, Ms. Vick and Ms. Duckett's classes have "caught" their larvae pupating, forming amazingly beautiful chrysalides!  ( No, I didn't know the plural of chrysalis either but check this out on Merriam-Webster!)

We have even sent of our first Monarch, "Tango" from Mrs. Mitchell's class!

                                                          HAVE A SAFE TRIP, TANGO!

Would you believe that by instinct, "Tango" will fly thousands of miles to join MILLIONS of others to winter in Mexico?

Tango, an millions of others will make this trip in ONE generation!

This year, however, we have had a few complications. For reasons we have yet to determine, many of our small friends never made it through all stages of metamorphosis. Many stopped growing prior to pupating. We have started to buddy up classes so that all students, regardless of the outcome of their classroom "pets", get to experience the Monarch walking on their hand, determine if it is a male or female ( by markings on the inside of it's wings) and test for a specific parasite that can infect adults before sending off.

In the meantime, if you want to be awed, here are two WONDERFUL videos. One is the entire life cycle of the Monarch from egg to adult that is truly inspiring. The others are clips from the mountains in Mexico where the Monarchs winter. It is truly amazing what these little creatures can do. When occurring in nature ( not reared in labs), the adult Monarch can migrate from Canada to Mexico in ONE generation! Once spring arrives, it takes multiple generations for them to return to Canada, instinct guiding them.  AMAZING! ( Have I said AMAZING??)

                                      

                                         
Let's hope the rest of our little friends continue growing and changing!

-Mrs.Ford
PS: Vanessa is my first name and it means butterfly!

DONORS THROUGH DONORS CHOOSE... THIS ONE'S FOR YOU!

Better than my birthday! All my Donor's Choose packages arrive this week!

 Since I joined Maury Elementary, I've written and received over $25,000 worth of grant funding to purchase educational materials for my students. I've also been lucky enough to have incredibly supportive PTA and 12 years of  connections to great people and organizations under my belt. It wasn't until recently though that I turned to Donors Choose to fulfill the project needs I'd created for some exciting new units. Over the years, I've supported many teachers for their projects but never had written my own! Now that I have gone back to the same organizations, people and grant funders again and again and I wanted to tap into the amazing network of everyday philanthropists for these new projects. It has been so rewarding! THANK YOU to all those who gave to my two most recent projects, "Build our Science Lab" and "Shhh... We are Tracking Animals". Both have been funded and materials arrived this week. While it will be about a month until we delve more deeply into the units you funded, our youngest students had a great time exploring our new Magnification Stations already! Thank you for caring so deeply about education... and science!

Until next time!
Mrs. Ford

PICTURE AND PEOPLE SMARTS IN PRACTICE!

                    

     Ms. Fox's students explore with Lego materials on Day 1 of our next Engineering Unit!

So this post is worth millions! (For a super fun montage of our 3rd week of school, click HERE!)

Our SMARTS focus this fall:

Ensuring that students get the opportunity to use many of their Multiple Intelligences is central to my program. So far this year, all challenges have been about using our Picture and People Smarts. 

Picture Smarts are officially known as Visual/Spatial Intelligences. This intelligence is about learning visually and organizing ideas spatially. Students see concepts in action in order to understand them. Working with these "smarts" allows students the ability to "see" things in one's mind in planning to create a product or solve a problem. 

People Smarts are officially known as Interpersonal Intelligences. Using these smarts, students learn through interaction with others and promote collaboration and working cooperatively with others.

Let two PK students show you how these smarts work together!

So, while the Monarch Larvae prepare to enter their adoptive homes ( aka the classrooms) for in depth study, other projects are happening in Think Tank.

Monarch Adoption Center! All larvae are now safely in loving classroom homes!

So... What's happening in each of the grade levels already? Let these pictures and videos be your guide. Enjoy!

PS and PK: PreSchool and PreK students are working in Think Tank through a series of center-based activities. Over the next two months, they will work with each of their 8 Intelligences ( Smarts) in these centers. So far they are LOVING it and doing such a great job working together and exploring STEM 
(Science, Engineering, Math and Technology) concepts.

                                   

                             Felt shapes to create with in one of the "Picture Smart" centers

GeoBlocks to create patterns

Working together to build with gears.

Felt patterns and creative design fun!

Explaining patterns at the drawing center!

Exploring reflections!

Gears!

"Wow! I see four now!"

Exploring Science Picture Books

                                                                                       

Massive collaborative effort with a big group! That's hard work!

K-4: All of these students have just begun various Lego units about Simple Machines! In addition to the STEM content covered in this unit, students are strengthening a number of Habits of Mind including "Listen Actively", "Collaborate and Inspire Teamwork" and " Use What You Know, Transfer Learning". Students are taking on a variety of challenges based on their grade level. The pictures below exemplify what a GREAT job they are doing at inspiring teamwork. It's not an easy task compiling ONE model with a group of people! Students are using their PEOPLE and PICTURE smarts in these challenges!

As students worked, I listened for words and phrases that inspired teamwork and recorded them. They are now posted around my room so students can reference them when thinking of ways to be supportive in their groups. This is one example!

UPDATED:
Thank you to volunteer extraordinaire Elizabeth Nelson for these pictures she sent today! 4th Graders are working on engineering catapults!

HABITS OF MIND: Just a reminder that we always have a Habits of Mind focus with all of our challenges. The 4th Grade classes had 20 minutes to collaboratively make skits to explain the meaning of a few of them, and this one was particularly great! I'll let them explain " Wonder, Explore and Ask Questions"!

GARDEN CLUB: Under the guidance of Joe Ludes, one of our Special Education teachers, we have started a garden club for interested 3rd-5th grade students. Mr. Ludes happens to be a Master Gardener and runs the Hyattsville Urban Growers. He is leading the planting and education surrounding our new edible garden space in the front. Watch it as it transforms!

What about 5th Grade?

Not to worry! Pictures and videos are coming for this grade. They are taking part in the Anacostia Watershed Society's "Saving our Native Grasslands" project this month. This will include an in-class visit and two big field trips. It should be an amazing experience for them!

Phew.....

That's all I can fit for now. More will be coming soon, but you can always get daily updates by following me on Twitter ( @maurythinktank ). I also share lots of cool science articles and events there too!

Until next time... HAPPY THINKING!

-Mrs. Ford

Follow Maury Think Tank on Twitter!

I'm in the process of trying to write a comprehensive new blog post with tons of pictures and info about all the great projects we've started this year. It's taking longer than I thought! In the meantime, follow @maurythinktank on Twitter and you can see DAILY updates from the classroom and links to fun at home events!

Expect a new blog post by the end of the weekend! Happy Thinking!
-Mrs. Ford

Maury Monarch Madness

The fall of 2012 send-off celebration!

In less than one week, about 70 newborns will be delivered to Maury ready to be nurtured by our students. For our third year, we will observe, explore, investigate and create projects surrounding the amazing Monarch butterfly.  As we prepare to welcome these amazing creatures into our community, I want to try to more directly connect our school-wide study with things you can do at home together with your children.

Become a Citizen Scientist!
Join thousands of other everyday citizens and report your Monarch sitings! Report your sitings HERE !

Take a family trip to the Smithsonian Natural History Museum's Monarch Exhibit and IMAX!
 Haven't been to this museum's  Live Monarch Exhibit and/or go watch the amazing IMAX film about their incredible journey. Get more information HERE !

Search our neighborhood milkweed for eggs and larvae!
 Take a walk and spend some time on a search for the super-tiny Monarch eggs, evidence of the very hungry caterpillars (larvae) or a beautiful chrysalis. Eggs are barely visible and are often found on the underside of milkweed leaves. It takes patience to find one but well worth it when you do!

Look closely! The eating pattern should help you find them!

Find some leaves? Bring them in so that your child's classmates can investigate the larvae eating patterns more closely.

Not sure what milkweed looks like? Check out our front garden... and all over the city! You can find a visual guide HERE or look for the very common kind that is blooming all over our city right now! Please always wash your hands after you touch milkweed!

Swamp Milkweed has been a favorite of our larvae in the past!

Follow the Monarch migration from home HERE while learning all about their amazing migration! You will be inspired... I promise! Check out their journey HERE.

I hope you are ready to watch the amazing metamorphosis and pictures from our own Maury Monarchs next week.

Happy thinking!
-Mrs. Ford

Tagged and ready to fly South.... or not?