Third Graders Unite Against Bullying

During the last week of March and the first few days of April, third graders joined together to take a stand against bullying.  To do this, we decided to participate in the Montgomery County Prosecutor Mathias J. Heck's Violence Prevention Poster Contest.  Through this contest, art is used to convey a message about the dangers associated with the topic you selected from the list provided.  All third graders created their poster on the topic of bullying.

Cayla, Ray'Von, Da'Marieon, and Darren show off their posters.

In order to gain some inspiration, third graders watched the following video prior to drafting their posters:

The Violence Prevention Project began in 1990 to offer information about alternatives to violence as a means to solving problems. The close connection between violence and the use of illegal drugs soon lead to a discussion about alternatives to drugs as well as violent behavior. And, with the increased access to electronic technology it was necessary to include the subject of internet safety. The education programs and this contest have been used to encourage members of our community, particularly our youth, to promote positive behavior.

Posters were submitted.  All entrants receive a prize but special prizes and awards are presented to those judged to have exceptional content, message, and creativity.  An award ceremony will be held in May.

HORIZON SCIENCE ACADEMY DAYTON ELEMENTARY-- RIGHT TO READ MONTH

Throughout March, students at Horizon Science Academy- Dayton Elementary will be enjoying special guest readers as part of a month-long reading extravaganza in honor of National Right to Read.

Guest readers planned included members of the Dayton Demonz Hockey team, Jim Bucher- TV Guy, Buckeyeman and Jim Tressel Look-alike, members of the Dayton Sharks Indoor Football team, and members of the Victoria Theater. The month-long event was designed to highlight the importance of teaching strong reading skills and the value of reading to children. Students spent the month reading a variety of books that touch upon different aspects of their curriculum with a special focus on author studies. The month will culminate in a special Dr. Seuss event to celebrate the birthday of one of the most loved authors of children’s books.

On Tuesday, March 10th several readers came from Wright Patterson Air Force Base. They read to several of the classrooms with the elementary school, grades kindergarten through fifth. The students were so excited to see the soldiers from the Air Force come in uniform and read their favorite books! The students got a chance to see that reading is important to so many people, but especially soldiers. This is a profession that many of HSA Dayton Elementary students say they want to you be when they grow up.

2nd Lt. Fairchild visited third graders.  After reading to them, the students had an opportunity to ask him questions about his particular role in the military.  2nd Lt. Fairchild explained that he is an electrical engineer and that to do his job it is very important to study mathematics and science topics.  He said that being a good reader is important in both of those areas.  Students talked to him about the kinds of careers they were thinking about when they grow up.  He told them that many of those careers were things that they could do in the military and that the military could help them go to school to become those things but that they had to study hard now so that they could do those things later.

2nd Lt. Fairchild  reads to third graders.

2nd Lt. Fairchild celebrated Right to Read with Third Grade at HSA-DE.

On March 17, we were visited by Buckeyman and a Jim Tressel Look-alike (written about in a previous blog post).  Third graders enjoyed listening to an ABC book about the OSU Buckeyes read by both of these gentlemen.  Afterwards, they questioned them about what it takes to get into a great college like The Ohio State University.  Buckeyman, who sits on the scholarship board for OSU, indicated that students would need to have good study habits, good grades, and a willingness to work hard and struggle.

Jim Tressel Look-alike and Buckeyman

On April 24, Third graders were visited by Jeff Booth, Chief Meteorologist for ABC 22 and FOX 45.  Mr. Booth read Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs to students and then fielded some of their questions about what it takes to be a meteorologist.

Jeff Booth reading Cloudy with  Chance of Meatballs

Thank you Mr. Booth for supporting our Right to Read!

Throughout the month, several other guest readers visited HSA-DE.  We ended the month with a special Career Day event where students were permitted to dress up like the career they would like to be when they grow up as successful readers.  In third grade, Shy'Diamond dressed up as an art teacher, Diamond dressed up as an elementary teacher, Darren dressed up as a boxer, Khadijah dressed up as a doctor, and Da'Marieon dressed up as a businessman.  Students are already starting to see that they can be anything they set their minds on if they make a plan and work towards it.

Cause and Effect: Force, Energy, and Simple Machines

Third Graders at HSA-DE continued their fourth Interdisciplinary Unit of Study during the third quarter with an exploration of physical science.  This Interdisciplinary Unit, titled "Cause and Effect" focused on physical science topics of Forces, Energy, and Simple Machines.  As previously written about here at Down the Hall in Room 177, in Social Studies, we focused on Citizenship and Government (Cause and Effect Social Studies).

To kick on the physical science aspect of our Cause and Effect Unit, we began by examining the front cover of the book How do You Lift a Lion? by Robert Wells.

Students were posed the question and were asked to come up with possible solutions to this dilemma. Each student was given a post-it note on which to write three ideas for how to lift the lion.  Next,  They worked in their P.R.I.D.E. groups to compare their ideas and generate a group lists of ideas for how they might lift a lion.  Finally, a whole class discussion was held and ideas were shared.

Some ideas for how to life a lion included:

1. Have a whole bunch of people lift different parts of the lion up all at once.
2. Use a helicopter and straps to lift it up.
3. Use a rope and pull it up.
4. Put it on a swing.
5. Push it up on a truck.
6. Use a tow truck to pull it up.

Following this, we began experimenting with force and motion.  Students learned that a force is something that changes the motion of an object.  We learned that there are many things that are forces.  For example, pushes and pulls are forces.

Students were shown a picture of Dr. Doolittle's famous creature the Pushmi-Pullyu.

They were asked how they thought this creature might move.  Students discussed this question with their table partner and eventually the class decided that while one half of the creature pulled, the other half pushed.  When asked what would happen if both halves of the creature tried to walk forward (away from each other) students realized that the Pushmi-Pullyu probably would not move much.

Following this discussion, students participated in a motion lab.  Students worked in P.R.I.D.E. groups as they moved through five centers.  At each center students were presented with a task where they would put small objects in motion.  They were to answer questions such as, "What was the force?" and "What made the object stop moving?"

Khadijah, Da'Marieon, Lavon, and Jayda PUSH a car across
the carpet to put it in MOTION.  Many things can cause the car
to stop moving or slow down.  One thing is if it CHANGES DIRECTION.
Another is the FRICTION of the tires against the carpet.

Dymond, Karissa, Shy'Diamond, and Marcus experiment with what happens
when two marbles are PUSHED towards each other.  They CHANGE
DIRECTION when they hit each other and eventually stop moving.

Darren, James, and Cayla observe difference between when a
bouncy ball is dropped from two different distances:  lower to the
ground and higher from the ground.  When the ball is dropped from higher
up, it bounces back higher.  GRAVITY is the PULL that makes the ball
MOVE to the ground.  The ground is the PUSH that makes the ball
bounce back up.  When there is more FORCE (dropping the ball from
higher up) there is faster MOTION.

Adriana works at one center where the students were to spin a top.  The FRICTION

created by the top rubbing against the surface of the desk stopped the top from moving

Mairon, Kaylin, and TaMya experiment with the force of wind
on a pinwheel.  

Ra'Jhay, Ray'Von, Adriana, and Aaron experiment with the force of wind on a liquid.

Next, students observed and experimented with friction and how the surface and object is being moved across effects the amount of work necessary to complete a task.  To demonstrate this, we used a spring scale.  A spring scare measures force needed to move an object in Newtons.  A stack of text books was bound together and pulled across a table, which is a smooth surface,  using the spring scale.  Measurements were taken and data was recorded.

Students record data after a stack of books was pulled across the table using a
spring scale.

Next, we repeated the test the same with with a rough surface.  Several bumpy ceramic tiles were places on top of the table and held in place by the students.  The stack of books was pulled across the tiles and the force needed to move the books was recorded.

Students working together to move a stack of books across a rough surface.

Finally, students experienced what happens when a lubricant is added to a surface.  LUBRICANTS are substances that can make work easier.  For our experiment, we used dish detergent on our table.  We pulled the stack of books across the table.  The books slid very easily across the table.

The students conclusion was that it took the least force and was easiest to move objects over a surface with a lubricant.  Next easiest was a smooth surface.  Finally, it took the most force, and was most difficult to move objects over a surface with a rough surface.

Students began to understand the key vocabulary involving force and motion:

ENERGY:  the ability to cause movement or change

FRICTION:  a force caused by objects rubbing together that makes them slow down or stop

FORCE:  a push or a pull

MOTION:  movement of something from one place to another

PUSH: a force that moves an object away from another object

PULL:  a force that moves an object towards another object

GRAVITY:  a force that pulls objects towards each other
POSITION:  where an object is located

So, next we discussed things that help us do WORK.  WORK is what is done when something is done to move an object over a distance.  We revisited How do You Lift a Lion? by Robert Wells.  By reading this book, students were exposed to their first discovery of simple machines.  In the book various animals were moved by using levers, pulleys, inclined planes, screws, wheels & axles, and wedges.  Each day, for a week, students learned about one simple machine.

Da'Marieon and Khadijah experiment with load, fulcrum and lever.

On the last day of this unit, students looked through advertisements from Lowes and Menards to find simple machines.  They made collages of items found in these ads that were examples of simple machines.

Third Quarter Honors

The third quarter of the 2014-15 school year is behind us and with that Horizon Science Academy took some time to recognize students who demonstrated outstanding achievement in academics, character, and citizenship. The following students from third grade were recognized at the third quarter awards assembly in March.

Merit Roll

Merit roll is achieved when a student earns an overall GPA between 3.0 and 3.49.  The following third graders achieved the Merit Roll for the first quarter of this school year:

Abubakr, Khadijah, Jayda, Ray'Von

Honor Roll

Honor Roll is achieved when a student earns a GPA between 3.5 and 3.99.  When placed on the Honor Roll, students receive a McDonald's gift card in addition to their certificate. The following students achieved Honor Roll during the first quarter:

James, Da'Marieon, Angel, Kaylin, Cayla

Super Honor Roll

Super Honor Roll is achieved when a student obtains a GPA of a perfect 4.0,  (No students earned this during the third quarter but we are optimistic that we will have several earn it during the fourth quarter).

Special Honors and Awards

Highest Average in Science

Kaylin

Highest Average in Social Studies

Da'Marieon, Khadijah, Kaylin, (Diamond, not pictured)

Highest Average in Reading

James, Kaylin, Cayla

Highest Average in Math

James and Angel

Regional Spelling Bee Participants

James, Angel, Cayla

Most Improved

Reading:  Abubakr & Darren; Math:  Jayda & Darren

Horizon P.R.I.D.E. Award

Cayla

Citizenship

Khadijah, Cayla, Jayda

Dean's Student  of the Quarter 

Angel Reine

Helping Hands

Da'Marieon, James, and Angel

Perfect Attendance

Jayda and Darren

Pennies for Patients & Stuck for a Buck

This year, HSA-DE participated in the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Pennies for Patients Campaign.  Since 1994, millions of dollars have been raised in pennies and other spare change by more than 10 million elementary, middle and high school students throughout the country. The funds, collected during a three-week period, benefit The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Everyone who participates is a winner!

At HSA-DE, we raised money by collecting spare change in our classrooms.  We also held special event days including "Jersey and Jeans Day" and "Crazy Hat Day".  We also held candy sales throughout the campaign with all proceeds going to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

However, the highlight of the campaign was the Stuck for a Buck fundraiser where students could pay $1 to purchase a piece of duct tape which would then be used to tape our beloved Mr. Gonzalez, our Title 1 Math teacher, to the wall of our school cafeteria.  Stuck for a Buck was an overwhelming success and students and staff, alike, enjoyed this spirited pep rally.  Once the money was all counted, students at HSA-DE had raised $943.97!  WAY to GO, Horizon Hawks!

Cayla, Shy'Diamond, Khadijah, and Kaylin get ready to place their tape.

Mr. Gonzalez is wondering why the students seem so eager
to tape him to the wall.

Da'Marieon puts his tape in place.

Buckeyeman and "Jim Tressel" (look-alike) Support HSA Readers

Throughout March, students at Horizon Science Academy- Dayton Elementary will be enjoying special guest readers as part of a month-long reading extravaganza in honor of National Right to Read.

Guest readers planned included members of the Dayton Demonz Hockey team, Jim Bucher- TV Guy, Buckeyman and Jim Tressel Look-alike, and members of the Victoria Theater. The month-long event is designed to highlight the importance of teaching strong reading skills and the value of reading to children. Students will spend the month reading a variety of books that touch upon different aspects of their curriculum with a special focus on author studies. The month will culminate in a special Dr. Seuss event to celebrate the birthday of one of this most loved authors of children's books.

Today, HSA-DE was visited by Larry Buckeyeman Lokai and a Jim Tressel look-alike. Buckeyeman and Jim read Buckeyes A-Z by Mark Walter to students throughout the building. Each student was presented a gift of a genuine buckeye along with a card explaining what a buckeye was.  Each teacher was presented an OSU Buckeye necklace.  We were very excited to host these very special visitors to our building and the students listed very intently to learn more about the OSU Buckeyes than they had ever known before.


Here are just a few photos from our special day...

Did Someone Say Pi?

The most EPIC Pi Day of the century was today, 3.14.15, and at 9:26:53, seven dedicated third graders from Horizon Science Academy-Dayton Elementary attended Saturday School in room 177 to help give them a fun boost to their education as we move into the Spring.

Saturday School is designed to be even more hands on and experiential than what occurs in the classroom through the week.  Often, we have a theme to our learning and today was one such day.  Today's them was Pi and Pie!

We began our lesson with an introduction to the book Sir Cumference and the Dragon of Pi, A Math Adventure by Cindy Neuschwander.

Students were given dry erase boards and markers on which they were asked to record math terms that they heard as the story was read aloud.

Da'Marieon creates his list of math terms.

Once we reached page 17, the story was paused and students were shown a demonstration of the concepts the characters in the story discovered. . . The realization that the circumference of a circle is slightly more than 3 times the diameter of the circle.  It is actually 3 1/7 diameters, or 3.141592653. . .  We took yarn and measured across the diameter, cutting that length.  Then, we cut yarn the length of the circumference.  We observed that, indeed, the circumference of the circle is just over 3 times the diameter.

After we listened to the remainder of the story, we related what we learned to our recent study of fractions.  To do this, Students were distributed a set of construction paper circles representing pies.  We discussed what kinds of pies each color of paper could represent.   Students generated the following ideas:

BROWN:  chocolate cream, pecan, pumpkin, turkey pot pie, chicken pot pie

YELLOW:  lemon, banana, coconut cream, sugar cream, apple

ORANGE:  peach, pumpkin

BLUE:  blueberry, blackberry

RED:  strawberry, cherry, strawberry rhubarb, red raspberry

Students were instructed to choose one "pie" that is their favorite.  Once that was done, These "pies" were folded in half.  We noted that when folding in half, we were folding on the diameter  of the "pie".  Next, students cut the pie on the fold, so that they now had two halves.  We reviewed that each part of their pie was 1/2 and we called that a unit fraction.  A unit fraction is a fraction whose numerator is 1.  

Next, students traded 1/2, or one unit, of their pie to a friend.  We identified parts of our pie by stating, "One-half of my pie is orange," and so on.

After this, we repeated the above procedure, cutting each half in half so that now we had four pieces.  Again, we identified that we still had a unit fraction but now, our unit fraction was 1/4.

Diamond cuts her pie pieces into one-fourths.

Students traded a 1/4 piece of their pie to a friend and then returned to their desks.  After putting their pies back together as a whole, they stated fractions about their pie.  For example, "Three-fourths of my pie is red and 1/4 of my pie is yellow."  We noted that 3/4 is NOT a unit fraction.

Finally, we repeated the cut and trade procedure a third time so that we now had a pie cut into 1/8 pieces.  After we discussed our pies and compared our pies to each others, we glued our pies onto paper and recorded fractions identifying the portion of our pies that each color made.

Khadijah has her pie glued on paper and is writing fractions about her pie.

Before moving on to our next lesson segment, we took a moment to sing a special Pi Day song:

Following this activity, we read an informational text book, Pi Day by Nora Miller (Reading A-Z). Students practiced their oral reading fluency while learning that congress voted to make March 14 National Pi Day in the hopes that students would discover that they really do like math and science. We learned that people celebrate Pi Day by eating pie (of course!), both traditional pie and pizza pie, drinking Pi-neapple juice, doing math and science activities, singing songs, and having Pi Day 5Ks.

We were VERY excited this year at Horizon Science Academy-Dayton Elementary to be able to celebrate Pi Day in nearly ALL of those special ways.  Immediately following Saturday School, students, staff and families of both students and staff gathered to run or walk our very own Pi Day 5K.

We had a wonderful turnout for this event and the rain dried up just in time as the sun came out to shine down upon us for this special event. Along with many others, 6 third graders laced up their running shoes and we took to Sinclair Park clad in our lime green Pi Day 5K shirts.

Khadijah, Alivia, Abubakr, Angel, Da'Marieon, and Cayla gathered together pre-race.

Along the way, we had MANY laughs and made lots of memories.  The third graders are quite a group of characters and the 5K racers were in peak form today!

Abubakr brought up the rear most of the race only to gain
a "sudden flash of energy" 10 feet from the finish line as he
flew by Ms. A (who had planned to wait on him so we'd cross
it together)...I think he must have heard the theme song from
Chariot's of Fire at the end...nah...he just wanted to dog his
teacher...LOL!

Cayla represented third grade and the girls by finishing
FIRST girl and FOURTH overall.

And here comes Da'Marieon...apparently he got hot running since he took off his
race shirt...as he past me, he said, "Here Ms. A.  Hold this.  I gotta finish this race!"
Glad I can help, D.  =)

Angel runs back to meet Abubakr, Khadijah (who joined me on my final lap)
 and me as we approached the finish line.

Once we arrived back at school.  Every  received participation certificates and trophies were given to the first, second, and third place finishers.  Then we enjoyed pizza pie and pie.  It really was a great day and certainly one of my most memorable and enjoyable with my students.