Irving 11/18-20

On Monday 5th Graders participating in the Literary Entrepreneurs Project Based Learning Unit moved on to their next step. For this project students are identifying character traits for one character in their independent book. They will use those traits to develop a business their character could create were they to come to life. The idea is to transfer the traits and related skills to an applicable business idea. Students will be designing a logo and building a live website for their character's business.

In past sessions they had been recording character traits, text evidence, and real world skills connected to those traits. This week we moved on to the next step. Students are ready to start considering business ideas. To get ideas flowing, we worked in small groups to complete the 50 things Protocol. Students were asked to write down as many business ideas as possible. Protocol norms included: everyone participates, go for quantity, reserve judgement, say as you write, build off of others ideas, and have fun. The idea behind this task is to collaboratively develop as many ideas possible in a relatively short amount of time. Students were given ten minutes.

Once brainstorming was completed students circulated looking at all of the posters and jotting down ideas that may be applicable to thier character or things they'd like to build upon. In just 10 minutes students collaborated and shared to come up with 100s of ideas. Next week 5th graders will work towards choosing one business idea and start a business web.

4th and 5th Graders began work on their final Project Lead the Way "Grids and Games" activity during Innovation Station sessions. Throughout the first quarter they worked on developing coding skills, Pair Programming, collaborating, using elements of the Engineering Design Process (Ask, Explain, Model, Evaluate, and Explain), and self directing learning.

Today's activity asked students to create their own original video game. This activity allowed for creativity, critical thinking, and consideration of specific criteria for success. We decided to let students choose if they preferred to pair program or work independently for this final task.

Each game needed to include: a main character, character's target, two controls or buttons, and an obstacle. Students needed to program the main character to move, the obstacle to create a challenge for the character, and the buttons to move the main character side to side, up and down, or both. Students got really creative and went above and beyond the criteria! I saw a game where the character was a girl, who needed to clean up her room (obstacles) to reach the present. We saw a scuba diver trying to avoid sharks to get to the island. This team planned to create a second level on the island. Some students opted to draw their own characters rather than use the options from Scratch Jr. We will complete games when we return from break and students will be able to test each other's work and give feedback.

When this task is complete we will be moving into a Project Based Learning unit that will allow students to complete hands on authentic tasks while incorporating technology and science standards.

Both Ms. Miller and Ms. McConnohie's classes earned there incentive Free Time at the end of today's session. Many students chose to continue coding their games as they were so engaged in this activity! Other's chose to explore with our new Virtual Reality head sets. There is an option ride a roller coaster, see the view from the top of a building and more.

Have a great weekend everyone!