K2 STEM has launched! On Friday, kindergarten and 2nd grade students came together for a snack, story, and lab session with a focus on teamwork and the scientific process.
After reading What Do You Do With an Idea? Students learned about the process of asking questions, visualizing ideas, planning, creating, and redesigning within a community environment where all ideas are valued.
We participated in a critical-thinking warm up activity and then learned about each of the 5 STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) challenges arranged around the room. Students immediately delved into their independent and collaborative work constructing a variety of structures comprised of different materials.
Students drew and wrote about their blueprints, formulated hypotheses, tested out ideas, assisted peers, provided constructive feedback, and made improvements to their projects as needed.
We look forward to this week's return to the lab!
Authentic Learning with a Kitchen of Baking Experts: On Friday, the kindergarten class made homemade caramel rolls with two of our favorite resident experts. We discovered the unique qualities of yeast, observed the reaction that takes place water, discussed the changes it has on the dough, and predicted the height of the dough when ready. We measured, melted, stirred, mixed, and poured. We discovered a couple of new kitchen tools, such as the bread hook and hot plate. We kneaded a lot, using two different methods. We rolled the dough and added the final ingredients. We baked, waited, and discovered that the aroma of the rolls could be detected from the library! To complete the day, we invited the 2nd grade class to share our snack during our K2 STEM lab session that afternoon.
The learning that took place across all curricular areas is undeniable and the beaming smiles from every single student make this day one for our collective memory book. Discovery, wonder, collaboration, and relevancy...these are the essential ingredients in learning according to our kitchen of kindergarten experts.
The Floodwood Elementary enjoyed visiting with Dan Urshan today and hearing his childhood story about Duke, the family dog, going missing. Students enjoyed listening to Dan read his book and asking questions about the experience. His books are on sale for $10.
Valentine's Day Grams for Sale! Ask a Junior or Ms. Rocco or Ms. Hanson to order yours! srocco@isd698.org shanson@isd698.org
Dan Urshan, author of "Where's Duke?" is visiting the Floodwood Media Center Fri. 2/8. He's visiting us to discuss being an author and his book. He plans to donate 2 books to each elementary classroom and will have books for sale, all proceeds donated to Animal Allies.
SnoWeek next week!!! Join in the fun with the dress up days
Essential Oils Skin Care Beauty Essentials
Floodwood School is closing at 1:00 today due to the weather. Buses will leave at 1:10. All evening activities (practice and games) are cancelled.
There will be a free practice test for ACT being offered at St. Scholastica on Saturday, February 9th. Call 218-723-6130 to register. Deadline to register is Wednesday, February 6th.
School of Excellence photos from yesterday
8th grade math students began the “Barbie Bungee” Challenge Task today. Will their data collecting help them correctly predict how many rubber bands will keep Barbie safe for a 400 cm bungee jump?
7th and 8th grade Essay Contest Winner
K2 STEM Launch: Kindergarten and 2nd grade students will meet for our first lab session this Friday, February 8th. We will read What Do You Do with an Idea? by Kobi Yamada. Afterward, we will discuss the process we will take each week asking questions, imagining results, planning, creating, and improving designs. After a guided practice/STEM warm up activity, students will be released to explore several stations of K and 2nd grade standards-based STEM challenges throughout the lab. Check back for the results of our first session!
Due to a city waterline break, students will be dismissed at 2:30 following our School of Excellence celebration. Please join us at 1:30 for the celebration!
You are invited to our School of Excellence Celebration today at 1:30! Enjoy a piece of cake with our students!!
K2 STEM: Growing Strong Students Through Collaboration
Kindergarten and 2nd grade will soon partner up for weekly STEM lab experiments. Your child will learn about the scientific process of inquiry and use it to explore Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics in a variety of rigorous, student-centered projects! More information about our first STEM lab session will be sent home soon.
Mark your calendars for February 11th, 6PM to attend a community information meeting at Floodwood School (media center) for the upcoming Operating Referendum Special Election. Ehlers, Inc., an independent financial advisory company will be presenting. Come with your questions!!
Fostering a Love of Learning: Building Strong Kids with a Strong Home and School Relationship
Snow day #3 in the books: Kindergarten students had another phenomenal day of discovery during our third day of the deep deep freeze! Children conducted outdoor experiments with bubbles, water, eggs, and yogurt. They built space machines and took authentic problems and designed effective solutions to rescue pets from the cold. Scientists, technicians, engineers, and mathematicians... THIS is what learning looks like for our brilliant little learners! STEM Snow days Challenge in K: A BIG success!
Come join us!
