Learning Labs News Vol 8

Mr.J’s Learning Lab News Volume 8- October 10, 2013

It’s been another STACHE-tastic week in the learning labs!  Even with only 4 school days this week, we continued our new October (Octubre) theme of Famous Artists and Scientists with Mustaches.  We learned about three new artists in the Arts Lab: Frida Kahlo, a female mexican artist with an awesome unibrow and stache who painted surreal self portraits; Gauguin who painted realistic indonesian tribes; and Manet who painted realistic city scenes using use of foreground and background.  In the Science Learning Lab we focused on Albert Einstein and his many scientific theories: Energy (E=mc 2- MassConstant squared), atomic, Relativity (time).  Finally we continued to practice our two new songs for October with select groups learning the tribal drums & making our “ash” props.

Next week, we will be continuing our Mustache theme as we learn about art by Van Gogh (BEARD DAY!) and the arts and sciences of Walt Disney!

MARK YOUR CALENDAR!  SET AN ALERT ON YOUR PHONE!

Important Upcoming Learning Lab dates:

Sunday, October 13- FREE Open House at Ringling College of Art + Design (Begins at 9:00 a.m.) Address: 2700 N Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL 34234

Tuesday, October 22- Mr. J’s new “Embracing our Differences” Art Club begins (permission slip attached)

Thursday, October 31st- Second Masterpiece Showcase (12:15 p.m.) and Costume parade (8:30 a.m.)

THIS SUNDAY!  The faculty and staff of Ringling College of Art+Design (where I went to a two day art training at last week!) are hosting a FREE open house to see what the college has to offer for prospective students.  The awesome staff would love to see our students who are interested in a future career in the arts world.  All of the LABS will be open and showing off the latest art techniques.  I hope to see you there starting at 9 a.m. Park at the Visitors lot at the corner of US41 and MLK Drive.  Any students who go will earn 10 extra credit points & a STEAM REPORT PASS good for 1 week off from writing one!

Speaking of STEAM reports… they are still going great!! Remember we will have a special FREE field trip at the end of the year for students who have turned in all of their reports!  Report sheets will be given out each Thursday (Attached to this Newsletter), and will be due every Tuesday.

DONATIONS of MATERIALS:
Remember to LABEL your donations with your family name(s) so Mr. J knows who to thank, and students that donate will be Mr.J’s LAB assistants that week!
Current Materials needed:
Pencil sharpeners
Acrylic tube paints
Mustache duct tape
Popsicle sticks
Balloons- Latex & Mylar (not inflated)
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Want to try our experiments at home?  Need a copy of any form given out in the Labs?  Then visit our NEW website @
www.MSASLearningLabs.com
And click on the “THEME BLOG” page!

ATTACHED TO THIS NEWSLETTER:
E.O.D Arts Club Permission Slip
Moby Max contest information
STEAM report information
WEEK 8 Blank STEAM report DUE TUESDAY OCTOBER 15

Mr.J’s “Embracing our Differences” Art Club

This fall, Mr. J is starting hosting a special weekly time for interested students to have “Studio time” at school to paint/create their own artwork to enter in this year’s “Embracing our Differences” exhibit in Downtown Bradenton and Sarasota.
Every Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. interested students will work in the Arts Learning Lab to create their own artwork to enter in this exciting art contest!
Spots are limited, and students will be chosen if they have a signed permission slip & completed STEAM reports each week.
Signed forms are due NO LATER than Friday, October 18th, and the “Embracing our Differences” Art Club will begin on Tuesday, October 22 & continue until winter break.

For more EOD information, visit: www.EmbracingOurDifferences.org

Mr. J’s EOD Art Club Permission Slip

I give my permission that my child, _________________________, can attend the “Embracing our Differences” Art Club on Tuesdays at 1:30 p.m. I am aware that they will use this time to create an art piece they will submit to the “embracing Our Differences” art contest.  
Student Name:
Teacher:
Parent signature:
Date: ____/____/2013

MOBY MAX CONTESTS ARE COMING!

This year our school is using the great website, www.MobyMax.com to help our students SOAR!  For every 40 hours they spend on the site they should gain at least 1 year of learning based on their own academic needs.  We feel this site is a great way to SOAR beyond the regular academics being taught in the classroom, and will help each student gain material they may have forgotten or missed.

To help support & motivate our great geckos, Mr. J will be monitoring every child’s progress on the site.  Each month we will have special prizes and rewards for students with: the most active time spent on the website, the most Standards achieved, and the most badges earned!

The first contest will end on Tuesday night, November 19th, and the prizes will be awarded to the top 3 in each class during the Masterpiece Showcase on Friday, November 22nd.

The second contest will end on Friday night, December 13th, and the prizes will be awarded to the top students in the WHOLE SCHOOL during the Masterpiece Showcase on Friday, December 20th.

Each student should have a unique username and password to login and track their progress.  If you need help knowing how to login, or need a copy of your student’s information,  please email Mr. J at ArtsLearningLab@gmail.com

www.MobyMax.com