What's in this Newsletter?
February Library Lessons
Grades K-2 have been working hard researching their I Wonder question about an animal. Students learned how a Table of Contents can be used to help answer our questions. Then students were introduced to a website that could also be used to help students answer their questions. We learned how a website was organized with pages to help us locate our answer. Then students used that website to find their answer.
Grades 3-5 have been researching one of the 50 states (Grade 3) or a country (Grades 4&5) using a graphic organizer to write down their notes. Students then began to work on create a final project digitally to share what they have learned about their state or country. The hope is that students will then get to present their findings during the month of February. Students will also be learning about why citations are important and how to give credit to their resources. Below is a slide of the beginning of student's amazing work!
RI Children's Book Award Challenge
Below are the flyers for each school describing the RICBA 10 book challenge. The PDF versions are below the flyers for download and has active links.
Clayville Flyer PDF:
| Hope Flyer PDF:
|
Clayville Catalog: https://search.follettsoftware.com/metasearch/ui/48995
Hope Catalog: https://search.follettsoftware.com/metasearch/ui/53626
NS Catalog: https://search.follettsoftware.com/metasearch/ui/42114?type=b
Above are links you can click on to access the e-Book or audiobook format of some 2021 RICBA nominees on Destiny Discover. Once each student logs in (username: sci#### / password: sci), he/she will be able to check out one e-book or audiobook if it is “In” under the heading or topic: 2021 RICBA. After reading each book, students will need to fill out a Google Form to demonstrate they completed the book. Students will access these Google Forms in their Library Google Classrooms under "RICBA Information" in the classwork tab.
Hope Catalog: https://search.follettsoftware.com/metasearch/ui/53626
NS Catalog: https://search.follettsoftware.com/metasearch/ui/42114?type=b
Above are links you can click on to access the e-Book or audiobook format of some 2021 RICBA nominees on Destiny Discover. Once each student logs in (username: sci#### / password: sci), he/she will be able to check out one e-book or audiobook if it is “In” under the heading or topic: 2021 RICBA. After reading each book, students will need to fill out a Google Form to demonstrate they completed the book. Students will access these Google Forms in their Library Google Classrooms under "RICBA Information" in the classwork tab.
Library Reminders
1. Kindergarten and Grade 1 Students should have received a Ziploc bag with their name on it as their "Library Bag". Please keep the book in the Library Bag when your child is not reading it to help keep it safe. 2. Even though students in grades Kindergarten and second are holding onto their library books for two weeks at a time, we are still practicing "normal" returning procedure. Students will be asked to show me their books each week, whether they are returning them or not. It is good practice to return their library book to their backpack each time they are finished reading it. 3. All students should be keeping their books in their backpacks for safe keeping.
4. All students will receive a bookmark on check out day to remind them when their book was checked out and when it needs to return to school. Please keep this bookmark in your child's book. |
STEAM Update
Grades K-2 will begin learning the basics of coding with code.org. Now that all students in grades K-1 are 1:1 with a device STEAM can move digitally!
What is Code.org?
"Code.org® is a nonprofit dedicated to expanding access to computer science in schools and increasing participation by young women and students from other underrepresented groups. Our vision is that every student in every school has the opportunity to learn computer science as part of their core K-12 education" (Code.org). Code.org is the leading provider of K-12 computer science curriculum in the United States.
"Computer science fosters creativity and teaches students critical thinking skills to become proactive learners, so elementary school is the ideal time for students to be introduced to CS." (Code.org)
"Our six Computer Science Fundamentals courses are flexibly designed for teachers new to CS who want to offer accessible and equitable introductory CS courses to their students." (Code.org)
View the images below to learn more about the importance of computer science.
What is Code.org?
"Code.org® is a nonprofit dedicated to expanding access to computer science in schools and increasing participation by young women and students from other underrepresented groups. Our vision is that every student in every school has the opportunity to learn computer science as part of their core K-12 education" (Code.org). Code.org is the leading provider of K-12 computer science curriculum in the United States.
"Computer science fosters creativity and teaches students critical thinking skills to become proactive learners, so elementary school is the ideal time for students to be introduced to CS." (Code.org)
"Our six Computer Science Fundamentals courses are flexibly designed for teachers new to CS who want to offer accessible and equitable introductory CS courses to their students." (Code.org)
View the images below to learn more about the importance of computer science.
Grades K-2:
After learning some basics, students will move to ScratchJr to create their own animations and games. It is a simplified version of Scratch.mit.edu. This is an app that that can be used on student's Chromebooks (It is also available for Ipads).
"Coding is the new literacy! With ScratchJr, young children (ages 5-7) can program their own interactive stories and games. In the process, they learn to solve problems, design projects, and express themselves creatively on the computer." (ScratchJr.org)
After learning some basics, students will move to ScratchJr to create their own animations and games. It is a simplified version of Scratch.mit.edu. This is an app that that can be used on student's Chromebooks (It is also available for Ipads).
"Coding is the new literacy! With ScratchJr, young children (ages 5-7) can program their own interactive stories and games. In the process, they learn to solve problems, design projects, and express themselves creatively on the computer." (ScratchJr.org)
Grade 3 has been using code.org to practice and learn coding skills and will move to scratch.mit.edu (a more complex but child friendly version).
What is Scratch?
"Scratch is a programming language and an online community where children can program and share interactive media such as stories, games, and animation with people from all over the world. As children create with Scratch, they learn to think creatively, work collaboratively, and reason systematically. Scratch is designed and maintained by the Lifelong Kindergarten group at the MIT Media Lab." (Scratch.mit.edu)
What is Scratch?
"Scratch is a programming language and an online community where children can program and share interactive media such as stories, games, and animation with people from all over the world. As children create with Scratch, they learn to think creatively, work collaboratively, and reason systematically. Scratch is designed and maintained by the Lifelong Kindergarten group at the MIT Media Lab." (Scratch.mit.edu)
Grades 4&5 will begin learning about GIS (Geographical Information Systems) by using a system called ESRI. We will practice using some mapping tools and then they will learn how to create Story Maps. Students will be able to enter the RI Story Map Competition to try to earn some CASH PRIZES!! Click the link below to see an example of how GIS is used (no log in needed if prompted).
Library Website
Click your school's button below to view each School's Library Web page. On this web page you can find things such as:
- Library Policies and Procedures
- Search the Library Catalog
- RI Children's Book Award Information
- Information for Parents
- Link to the Library Newsletters
- Technology & Educational Websites
Contact Information
stephanie.serdechny @ scituateschoolsri.net
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