Day 43-Kelly, 5th Grade Challenge Student

On the road in Challenge, by Kelly K.

Today we went to the weather museum – Weather Center Houston. We saw experiments on moving air, high pressure, and low pressure, and we saw that you can absorb water to a “low pressure area”, just by using an orange, matches (the more the better), a glass of water, and a plate.

Our day’s activities were:  scavenger hunt, moving air, and hurricane experience. We learned about hurricanes, tornadoes, and about predicting weather. We also learned about different climates such as tundra, and sub-tropical. We found out how meteorologists predict weather.  We got to see how dust devils are formed, and about how solar and lunar eclipses can’t change the weather under them.   We saw what happens when a tornado is finished. It splits up (majority goes back up to the storm cloud that it came from).  

We learned that the green screen is the best color for weather reports because not many meteorologists who tell the weather normally wear green. When they used blue, it was chaos because meteorologists who wore the right blue color became “walking maps”, and even if their eyes were the right shade, their eyes would have the map on them.  We even got to experience the wind force of a Category 1 hurricane in the Hurricane Simulator.  It was awesome!

 

 






Student thoughts on the field trip:

• We got to do the camera (green screen).  Ben
• I liked being in the hurricane simulator because it was cold and windy! Hunter
• I liked the scavenger hunt because we got to really look at things and go places we hadn’t.  Kaden
• I liked the room where it had a green background because if you took a green piece of paper over your face you would turn into the map.  Bailey
• I liked when he put matches in an apple, lit them, covered it with a glass, and it created low pressure and sucked the water into the glass.  Luke

• I liked the part when we saw the animals and talked about the habitats.  Bryan
• I like the scavenger hunt the most because we got to search the museum and learned stuff we didn’t know before.  Maddie
• I liked being in the hurricane simulator, the scavenger hunt, and being on the green screen.  Audrey
• I liked the animals and talking about the habitats.  Sam

• My favorite part of the weather museum was the tornado.  Chloe
• I liked when I made the fire world and water spout out of the legos.    Carson
• I liked the challenge of the scavenger hunt because it stretched my brain.  Jared
• I liked the match experiment because I like learning about vacuums.    Noah
• I liked when we saw high pressure and low pressure experiments, and lunch! Ava
• I liked the scavenger hunt best because it made me look more closely and learn more.  Ethan

• I liked building with the legos best.  Ryan
• I liked the hurricane simulator best because I got to experience the wind of a Cat. 1 hurricane.  Trevor
• My favorite part was playing the news and pretending I was invisible.  Matthew
• My favorite part was the hurricane simulator because it was fun – and cold!   Peter
• My favorite part was the scavenger hunt because I was good at it.  Gavin
• My favorite part was the scavenger hunt because I got to learn a lot of new things. Brodie
• I liked the scavenger hunt because it was fun and difficult at the same time.  Jayden

Day 41, Laila-4th Grade Student

Bailey The Cat

Mr.Sumner has been teaching us about adding details to our story.  He has also taught us leads, dialogue, endings, and writing about a small moment.  This is my story about my cat Bailey.

I zipped through the kitchen, thinking it was a grassy clearing. I wobbled towards the box. As I opened it, my face started beaming. There was no known cure for the happiness that flooded my body.

A cat hopped out! It looked as if it was taking a breath of relief as its broad face turned to gaze at mine. He padded towards my scraped jeans, he sniffed it as if he had caught my scent- Hmm.. is he friendly? I asked myself. I padded towards him, arching my hand to gently pet him. He darted towards the bedroom door, tufts of creamy fur hung from the ends of rusty nails. Mouse! Bailey crouched into hunting position and he leaped. His claws dug into the mouse’s shaggy, brown fur, he began batting it constantly. He threw the dead mouse into the mid-air, he opened his crooked jaws, the mouse hung lifeless in his mouth. I grabbed the deceased mouse gently and placed it gracefully in its mouse hole, “Nice catch!” I complimented, “Lets- I mean- I will call you, Bailey.” I smiled. 

His pale nose twitched as if he were disgusted. His pelt was a dark oak color with dark brown stripes ripping across his scrawny body. His dark face turned to the glittering windows. Lately he’s been seeing birds, but not anything like this-a red and black blurry figure appeared in it. His battle meow finally sounded, the figure shaped into a bird, flapping it’s red wings. Its beak opened up, as if it were alarming other species. It closed its eyes as it sounded the alarm, and Bailey swiftly unsheathed his dark claws and his crooked jaws opened. Night fell quickly, Bailey sheathed his killer claws and gave a friendly meow. I looked out the glistening windows, the city lights brightened, my eyes sparked with affection..” My home, my family.” I stated as my face smiled from ear to ear.

Day 42, Ha Nguyen-2nd Grade Teacher

There Is One Way To Skin A Cat....I Mean Solve A Math Problem

Second grade students have been working feverishly learning about new ways to add double digits. WE are going deeper into our learning and understanding the reasoning on how we are getting to our answers. This new way of thinking has teachers and students thinking deeply about place value and how numbers are made. Students are building each number so that they can see the value of each number and how we are adding the double digits together.

      

Students are building numbers using base 10 blocks showing the ones, tens, and hundreds place. This allows students to see how each number is made with concrete objects. We have also learned how to add double digits using place value on the hundreds chart by adding our tens and then adding our ones to find our sum. Through our discovery we have learned that there is more than one way to solve a problem, so we have also solved addition and subtraction problems using base 10 blocks, ten frames, and open number lines.

Every student is encouraged to use the strategy that best helps them solve the double digit addition and subtraction problems. It is a slow and steady process but we are seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.

Students are enjoying learning different ways and knowing that there is more than one way gives them options in problem solving. 

Day 40, Candace Clark-1st Grade Teacher

Groovy Science

In first grade we have been learning about the states of matter. The kids have worked hard and learned a lot about solids, liquids, and gases. We were able to do a lot of experiments during this unit, but this one in particular was a lot of fun. We made LAVA BOTTLES!

You start off with an empty water bottle and fill it 3/4 of the way with oil. Then you add water to fill it up, leaving about an inch at the top. Next, you add 10 drops of food coloring. This is neat because the kids all expect the oil to change color, but it does not. 

Then comes the really fun part. You take an Alka Seltzer tablet and break it into 4 pieces. You put 1 piece in at a time, and watch the reaction. It looks just like a lava lamp!

We had a lot of great conversation during this lesson about what was happening and why. The students even got introduced to fractions in real life. They got to take their lava bottles home along with 1 of the 4 pieces of the tablet. They had to go home and show their parents and tell them what was happening. 

Day 36, Leslee Salomone, 2nd Grade Teacher

 Mystery Snow Invades Second Grade at Cimarron!

Today, at approximately  9:25 AM, a freakish, out of the ordinary snow storm, took the second graders by surprise.  No one expected this to occur since we are still in the season of fall. It was about 85 degrees outside and Texas hardly ever gets snow!!!

This week in Science, second grade is studying the four seasons of the year as part of our Patterns of Change unit. I had taken a poll, and most of my students had not seen, felt, or had any idea about snow.  So I decided we would have some fun while learning.

 I  displayed  a trash can, 2 measuring spoons, and a bottle of water in front of the class along with a mystery baggie containing the mixture we were going to use.  I reminded students they would need their coats and sweaters because we would be going outside for part of Science. Some students did remind me,"Ummm- Mrs. Salomone, it's like 80 degrees, are you sure we need a jacket?" I replied yes because there was a major event happening at 9:25.

The class came in all a buzz about this major event and having to wear jackets when the thermometer read 80 degrees.  Ms. Nguyen had made a PowerPoint on WINTER-  our first season to study. As we went through the PowerPoint, students were beginning to watch the clock. We discussed activities you can do in winter, I even told them about activities from my childhood days when it snowed (sleigh riding, making forts, making snow ice cream, etc...)  We talked about traveling in the snow because cars might slip and slide into ditches. Then,we discussed the types of clothes you wear and it was at that point that they made the connection to why I had asked them to wear their jackets. It it hit them like a snowball!  They were so excited and full of eagerness.

I told them we would line up, go outside and MAKE SNOW!!! Squeals of joy, laughter and smiles were hard to contain.   We went out, got into a large circle. I poured in about 4 scoops of the snow mixture ( even though it said 1 scoop to two ouces. of water) and about a cup of water. I sloshed the can and the students gathered around. Right before them, they saw the snow double in size. All wanted a chance to feel, smell, and have the snow in their hands! I made enough for each student to get a handful and on the count of three, we all through the snow in the air. One student even tried to make a snow angel!

I thoroughly LOVED doing this with my students! So many have never felt or seen snow.

Some questions asked:

" Is snow always this temperature--cool?"

" Is snow always this light?"

"Can we eat this?"

Student Comments:

Brayden-"FUN- feels like real snow."

Jared-" Could NOT wait!"

Aliana-"So happy".

Nathaniel-"Weird".

Mason-"It was moist and soft. I liked making snow"

Aidan-" I was surprised! It was heavier than regular snow!"

Kyle-"It felt like regular snow."

Spring and Isaiah" I liked when we threw it up in the air, it felt like winter!"

Leah-"Excited! It reminds me of something when I went to play in the snow."

Jordan-"I am happy!"

Landon-"I felt excited!"

This was the most fun I have had teaching a lesson on the seasons.

  

Day 35, Elizabeth Kratz-Counselor

NED Show Comes to Cimarron

The NED Show came to Cimarron Elementary to share the message with students that they should “N – never give up, E – encourage others, D – do your best”. This message can be used in all of life lessons, not only in the classrooms here at Cimarron, but at home and in the community. Ms. Kristie, the representative from the NED show, brought this wonderful interactive lesson to our Cheetah friends. Students were able to actively participate during the show. 

All of our Cimarron students, PreK-5th grade participated in this activity.  The NED program came free to Cimarron with the Pay – It – Forward program. This type of program gave the students the chance to purchase yo-yos, which allows the company to present the program at another school for no charge. We have dozens of yo-yos for sale! Join in and let’s help pay it forward to another school, like the ones before us have done.

If you have any questions about the program please visit the website at www.theNEDshow.com

Keep up the great work Cheetahs and keep yo-yoing!

Day 34, Brodie-5th Grade Student

Shocking News from Challenge

Today we learned about how lightning is formed.  Lightning is formed by water particles getting hit by other particles and breaking the electrons of the particle off.  The electron sinks to the bottom of the cloud.  Electrons have a negative charge that is attracted to a positive charge which is in the ground.  The negative charge forks and looks for the path of least resistance.  When it finds its path it releases the energy through the path, but not at the same time.  When it is finding its path, positive electricity comes out of a path of little resistance An example of this is a tree or a metal pole. We call these lines of positive charges streamers.

We created positive and negative electrical charges by using balloons and rubbing them against our hair. It separated the electrons and the protons like particles of water in the clouds striking each other.  The “streamers” (a.k.a the hair) reached up to meet the negative charge from the “thunder cloud” (a.k.a the balloon).  

Can you see the positively charged “streamers” reaching up to meet the negative charge from the “thunder cloud”?

 The attraction of the negative and positive charges also made the balloons stick to our heads and to the chalk board. I had a lot of fun while learning about lightning and doing the balloon lab.