Ratios and Land.

I can't believe how fast this year is going! October already???

In history this week, we continued our study of the impact white settlers had on Native Americans with a peer teaching opportunity. Students received a topic and a partner and where in charge of analyzing the info to share the big idea and lead the class for 4-5 minutes! I think there are some future teachers in this bunch!

We also started our first PBA this week. Project Based Assessments (PBA) have replaced the SOL in our class. They are designed to let students show what they know without taking a standardized test. To get us started, we had a land run! Students were either 1 (on horseback), 2 (horseback with wagon), or 3 (on foot). Each started at different times to simulate a real land run as someone with a wagon or on foot would be slower. Everyone literally ran and claimed a piece of land with an ID that matched up to a map. Some students had land with trees and water or gold, while others were infested with snakes or prairies dogs. Our next tasks include creating a map of the land with certain elements and writing a letter describing what was encountered and how it impacted the Native Americans already living there to our families "back home." Check out how excited we were to do this!

Math this week was "too easy" (that's a direct quote from multiple students). We learned about ratios and real life applications of them. It was our first go at Rotations/Pit Stops around the room to practice our new knowledge. Questions are posted in different places and students rotate around the room to answer them instead of your standard worksheet practice. We also tried out some tasty treats to manipulate and discover even more on our own!

Other exciting things this week: 

• The amazing beat box talent of one of our students! Video courtesy of Mrs. Thomas (click video to play)!

• Creative novel projects! 
  

• Eating bread with butter that Mrs. Keith's first graders made themselves!
  

Ms. D's Weekend Snapshot: 

Aside from grading papers and working at the Blue Ridge, I got the awesome opportunity to help a good friend and amazing photographer out at a wedding this weekend!