Kinder Students Investigate Matter

 

Kindergarten has been studying about matter and the effects of heat upon matter. The children were each given an ice cube and told to see who could melt it the fastest. The children put the ice cubes out in the sun remembering that heat was what caused ice to melt (going from a solid to a liquid). One of the children thought about it and rubbed the ice cube on the pole for the basketball goal because he knew that metal got hotter than cement in the sun. What an awesome connection! COE kindergartners are thinkers!!

Webelos Troop Help COE!



The Webelos troop completed a service project at COE. On Monday, October 17th, 5 members of the Webelos brought their hoes and yard tools and did a great job cleaning up the library garden. They pulled weeds, picked up trash and swept up debris. For all their hard work they will earn a badge. Thanks so much for helping keep the reading garden a place we can all enjoy! With such cnice weather, many students will benefit from the hard work the Webelos did!

Ms. Herold's Class Uses Kidspiration

 

Ms. Herold's class used Kidspiration to show their understanding of light, heat and sound energy.  First grade students worked cooperatively with a partner to look through the picture gallery to find things that produced heat, sound or light.  Students made lots of connections and even noticed that fireworks would belong in all three categories. 

2nd Grade Uses Smart Board in Who We Are Unit

Mrs. Koester and Mrs. Van Curan used the Smart board in the village to help teach their Who We Are unit.  After a discussion about inherited traits, learned behaviors and instincts, students came to the smart board and sorted some traits into the proper category and explained their thinking. Students are developing an understanding of the central idea "Humans manifest their common characteristics differently."  

COES Student Wins Honorable Mention in Essay Contest

One of Chandler Oaks very own students, Saher in third grade, was recently awarded an honorable mention in the Be the Change Writing Contest. She received her award at the state capitol.  We are so proud of Saher! Read an excerpt of  her essay below.

"When I think of Gandhiji's phrase, Be The Change, I feel that I should be the change instead of waiting for others to change. Gandhiji treated everyone equally and with love and respect. He never chose violence and always taught everyone to care for each other. Gandhiji taught everyone to be independent and empower themselves. Gandhiji never gave up on his dreams and had a lot of courage....

                I would give a book to every kid in the world so that we can all learn how to read. I  would teach others to be kind, friendly and to love one another. I would provide water, food and houses for people who have lost everything. I would teach people not to fight because of differences but to talk about it and stop the conflict without hurting each other. I would teach people that no matter what you have, you should always share with others."

Patterns Everywhere!

Mrs. Raum's class has been studying patterns in math.  Students began noticing that patterns are everywhere -even in their clothes!

Second Grade Begins their "Who We Are" unit - with Animoto!

Students in second grade watched the Animoto below today to start their first unit of inquiry - Who We Are.  They are investigating the central idea "Humans manifest their common characteristics differently." They will be exploring what characterisitcs we share, and ways we are different.  After watching the Animoto, students reflected on what they saw, noticed, thought, or questioned. 
If you've never used Animoto before, you should check it out. It's a great way to display photos, but for teachers, it's a great way to engage students and get them asking good questions and make connections! 

One World, One Day

K-2 students have been in the library reading the book One World, One Day by Barbara Kerley and doing a lesson on the Smart Board.  It's one of the Armadillo Books- a list developed by RRISD librarians.  In the book, students see a day in the life of children all around the world.  We are alike, but not the same.   Students are becoming more open-minded when they see how other children live. The lesson on the Smart-Board helped build knowledge of where some of the countries in book are. Students used a virtual map and pushpin to find the countries and reflect on how we are all connected!

Second Grade Investigates Matter- and it's Delicious!

Second grade has been studying matter and how it changes states.  Our second grade scientists were inquirers when they investigated how cooling effects matter by making ice cream from scratch.  Students worked cooperatively to make their mix, add it to a bag of ice with rock salt, and shake it up.  They started to notice the mixture changing after a few minutes.  What a delicious way to understand the changing states of matter!

Bow Wow Readers

The Bow Wow Readers Program is back in session!  Tini, the beloved beagle from the Austin Dog Alliance has returned for another year with Chandler Oaks.  Students are invited to come to the library and read aloud to Tini. It's a relaxing and enjoyable way to practice reading fluency skills.  Students love it- and it looks like Tini does too!