Anatomy and Computing to Win

One of the activities our crew frequently enjoys as a way to deepen learning is math games.  Most Fridays we take a break from regular lessons and play a game that reinforces a particular math concept as well as speeds up computation skills.  Last Friday, the crew really got into "Fraction Capture" where the object is to capture portions of "wholes" while blocking your opponent.

Our body systems expedition is continuing to provide lots of fascinating learning. Last week we explored a basic attack on our health that we all experience from time to time--colds and flu.  Although a seemingly simple topic, it's a gateway into building understanding of the human immune system. Our own Ms. Kristin (clinic aid) shared with the crew about causes and preventative measures. Our second case study, which we just started, looks at a more serious threat to health-diabetes. Below are some snapshots of students doing group discussions of texts related to cold and flu viruses.

Today we did some on-site fieldwork for body systems by having an expert come and speak to the crew:  a cardiac nurse presented very interesting information on the circulatory system and showed us an actual heart, stomach, and liver (from a pig). 

 

Bird Boxes and Body Systems

Here are a couple of the learning activities we've been engaged in the last two weeks.

Service Learning

This year, we're privileged again to be helping with the Colorado Bluebird Project. We build bluebird boxes in the winter and monitor nesting activity and record data in the spring.  This is a win-win for our crew and for the city of Castle Rock--a win for our crew because we learn about ecology, biology, carpentry, and helpful attitudes for serving our community; a win for Castle Rock because they need as many volunteers as possible to contribute to this worthwhile effort to help wildlife. Last week, both 5th grade crews teamed up with Home Depot employees to construct bird boxes that will be mounted at various places in Castle Rock in a few weeks before the nesting season begins.

Body Systems

We're into our Body Systems science expedition now.  We begin this with a general look at six body systems: skeletal/muscular, circulatory, endocrine, digestive, nervous, and respiratory. Students are paired up to research one of these systems and then they share with the crew what they've learned.  When we are finished with our presentations we will have two case studies that look at ways the health of specific systems can be impacted.