UNR Basketball

 Attended an event at the University of Necada, Reno today. Learned about some different colleges and got to watch part of the women's basketball game. 

Mixtures and Solutions

Today we got to see how evaporation impacted our salt solution, which has been sitting in our classroom since last Thursday. We broke out the microscopes and hand lenses to analyze the crystal structure and will later compare this to those crystals produced in a sugar water solution that is also evaporated.

Instruments in Music

Mr. Unruh has borrowed a collection of violins for the students to learn the basics of music with. Since next year students have the opportunity to choose what their music program is (choir, strings, or band), this presents a great opportunity for everyone to get some hands-on experience with a stringed instrument. It also fits nicely in with our recent field trip to see the Reno Philharmonic Orchestra.

Vortex Canons

After reading all about the fluid dynamic principals of vortices all week in reading, we began making vortex canons in science yesterday. Today we incorporated all 4 articles we have been reading by writing about the topic knowledgeably and using citations. Students refined their vortex canons and tomorrow we have our Vortex Challenge (trademarked?). Let the science begin!

Campfires and "Spooky" Stories

In capitalizing on the time of year, and specifically Halloween, our class embraced the possibly distraction of the holiday and instead incorporated into the motivating factors of our learning. For the past two weeks students have been writing a "spooky" or "mysterious" story, focusing on the elements associated with those. Adding detailed adjectives into their story, peer editing and then printing, students were ready to celebrate their work. Sitting around various "camp fires" in class, students read their stories in the manner they were developed.

Polygon Attributes

We are deep into our unit on geometry. Students today cut out many different polygons and then sorted them according to their attributes, such as: all convex polygons, at least one pair of parallel sides, at least one reflex angle, etc.

Surface Tension

Today Mr. Green, our practicum student from UNR, taught a lesson on surface tension. Students tested water and soapy water to see the differences in surface tension and cohesion.

Using an Atlatl

Today we had an archaeologist visit our classroom to teach us about ancient civilizations. The focus was on the theory of the migration of humans to the Americas. After the lesson inside, students were able to each try using a real atlatl. Our "tribe" had to kill a woolly mammoth (box) with the spear. Using the atlatl to throw the spear was a new experience for all. In the end, we ate fairly well, having three people in our tribe hit the box.

Soils

In completing our unit that helped us understand what main elements are chiefly needed by plants in order to survive and grow, we finished with analyzing soils. In doing so, we learned that although soils are important, they are not one of the main components needed for plants to grow. In analyzing soils we examined what they are made of. Thanks for all the families who sent in different soils from around the area. We had lots of different types of soil.

S.T.E.M.

We were one of the lucky classrooms in the school district to sign up and book 3 sessions of STEM activities by partnering with the UNR College of Engineering. Today was our first session. A UNR engineer student visited and spoke about UNR/college life. Next, the discussion focused around engineering and different types of engineers. Then a lesson on engineering of bridges took place. Students used Kinex to build a suspension bridge.

Completion of Journeys Outdoor School

Our wonderful experience in the great outdoors has come to an end. We concluded by taking our annual tie dye photo of all the campers. We are currently heading back to the classroom to hold our "what was learned" discussion. We always walk away with so many concepts that were learned, focusing on three areas: How have you matured?/What I learned about myself, connections made to the natural world, and scientific concepts I walked away with. Each student will create massive lists on these concepts and then use their lists over the next several weeks to help write a newsletter in Microsoft Word of their learning experience.  An additional copy will be printed out and submitted with our grant report to the Geological Society of Nevada and the NV  Wildlife Record Book Foundation, who made this amazing experience possible. 

The Final Morning

We are packing up and stacking our gear  where the bus wills pick us up. Cabin inspections are taking place. For yesterday, Green Cabin 2 earned the Golden Dustpan for the cleanest cabin. Breakfast begins soon. Our final morning at JOS. 

Upper Level Challenge Course

This afternoon groups put on harnesses and hit the more advanced challenges on the course. 

Mini Challenges

Several groups have already started the mini challenges on the ropes course. These challenges allow students to learn to communicate and listen to each other's ideas. More advanced challenges to occur after lunch, especially for those teams who have learned how to efficiently work well together. 

Day Three Begins

Students appeared to get a better night's sleep last night, resting up to be mentally awake for the challenge course today. Breakfast included chocolate chip pancakes, eggs, sausage, fruit, yogurt, cereal, and oatmeal. A great start to another great day.