Learning Lab News Volume 12

Mr. J’s Learning Lab News Vol. 12- November 7, 2013

OUR WEBSITE IS REVISED & ALL NEW!  Check it out @ www.MSASLearningLabs.com

This week, we started our brand new theme of GAMES including “Ender’s Game” and “The Hunger Games.”  We were introduced to our new songs “Warrior (From ‘Ender’s Game’)” by DJ SoundHunter and “TEAM” by Lorde, and all students began making their STEAM Game Notebooks as well! To help fill out your next STEAM Report (Due Tuesday, Nov.12) here is a recap of all we have done this week:

Monday- We practiced our new songs (Listed above) that have symmetrical (Math) and battle forms.  We began to engineer our STEAM Game notebook by cutting, folding, and gluing pieces into the notebooks to create interactive pages.

Tuesday- We had a “reaping” bowl to assign each student into a district.  Their districts represent various elements & science/technological areas.  We played our first training game for points.  In the game students had to use skill to drop a dice into a numbered game board then add or multiply their points based on their grade levels.

Wednesday- We continued to practice our songs for a grade.  We continued our engineering of the STEAM notebooks by adding a District ID badge which each student personalized with their own artistic logo/symbol and information, then glued them into our notebooks.

Thursday- We held our second training game for points.  Modeling after the “Battle School” in Ender’s Game, the students had to use mathematical formations to progress through an opponent’s “gate”

Friday- Early release day, Learning Labs are not open on those days.

Attached to the newsletter is our current month’s Learning Lab schedule.  It should help students spark their memory/writing on a STEAM report if they get stuck. 

All of Mr. J’s first trimester art & music grades are finished and you may view them on gogeckos.com.  I am so excited to announce that 56 students have earned a space in Mr.J’s 100% club by earning both an 100% in music/dance AND arts (See attached list)!  This is a HUGE accomplishment & it means they turned in EVERY project and EVERY S.T.E.A.M. report on time!  I am so glad to see so many of our geckos soaring!

MARK YOUR CALENDAR!  SET AN ALERT ON YOUR PHONE!

Important Upcoming Learning Lab dates:

November 8- Early release at 11:45-to-Noon

November 11- Veteran’s Day- No School! Thank an active soldier or Veteran!   

November 13-18: Chalk fest in Downtown Sarasota (SRQ) FREE ART SHOW!

November 15-18: Siesta Key Sand Art show & competition ANOTHER FREE ART SHOW!!

November 20: Florida Aquarium Field Trip

November 21: Hunger Games day: Quarter Quell at school (In afternoon) & Movie Night at Oakmont 8 (Hunger Games Double feature at 5:00, Catching Fire at 8:00)

November 22: Our third Masterpiece Showcase (12:15 @ Gecko Stage MSAS)

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!

Current Materials still needed:

Pencil sharpeners  & Small bottles of glue (1.25 oz. works best)

MOBY MAX CONTESTS HAVE BEGUN!

Please bring in any monetary donations to Mrs. Brand to help our MobyMax contest out!  If everyone donated just $3.00, we would have over $350.00 in Prize Money! Thanks to all the families who have brought in a donation or gave your spare change in the car line =)

The first MONTHLY 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.

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

 

ATTACHED TO THIS NEWSLETTER:

MobyMax current standings, List of Mr.J’s First Trimester 100% club, November Learning Labs schedule (to help you fill out STEAM reports), and BLANK STEAM Report (Due Tuesday November 12)

CURRENT TOP MOBY MAX STANDINGS!  (As of Thursday, November 7 at 8:00 a.m.)

Keep working on your lessons to see if you can get your name on the list before the end of the contest!

Most badges earned (top 3 in each class):

Kalaman: Angel-5, Caleb-3, Lorraine-3

Babauta: Lily C.-15, Caleb F.-13, Bella B.-8

Griffin: Fiona- 43, Carissa-41, Mikkie -33

Earl: Ryan A- 22,  Sheena-16, Keyona- 15

Peace: Carlos- 30, Alyssa-27, Shane- 22

Taylor:  Austin M.- 16, Tyler S.- 11, Kevin- 10

Mitchell: Drake-66, Sam-53, Cade- 24

Most standards learned (Top 5 in whole school):

1. Alli- 136

2. Alyssa- 126

3. Drake- 90

4. Fiona- 73

5. Cade- 54

Top Classes (Most standards learned by class):

1. Griffin-  597 standards in all!

2. Mitchell- 561 standards in all!

Mr. J’s first trimester 100% club

The following 56 students earned both 100% in Arts and Music/dance for first trimester by participating completely in all dances/preformances, turning in all projects on time, and completing every S.T.E.A.M. report correctly & on time.  GREAT JOB SOARING… This was the most students Mr. J ever had at 100%... It is a BIG Accomplishment!  These students will come to a special party in December and at the end of the year (If earned each trimester).

Kalaman- Jax, Achilles, Avianna

Babauta- Mason, Elizabeth, Maranda, Lily C., Mia, Kenny, Kylee

Mitchell- Aryana, Kayla C., Alex, Cayenna, CeCi, TK, Sam, Lucca, Eric, Rodney, Angelina, Evelyn K., Drake

Taylor- Cameron, Gianni, Skyler, Kris B.

Peace- Abby O., ValleeRae, Abby K., Joey, Shane, Alli, Alyssa, Zacory

Griffin- Carissa, Fiona, Hannah, KK, Fabian, Ryan2, Ethan, Taylor, Lilly B., Mikkie, Taleah

Earl- Sarah, Susie, Keyona, Emily, Courtnee, Kayla B., Eric D., Lina, Tyhler, Sheena

November’s Learning Labs

Month theme: Games (including
The Hunger Games, Ender’s Game)

Week One

4 Arts: First rehearsals of
“Team” & “Warrior”, Begin making STEAM Game Notebooks (students must have
bound composition notebook)

5 Sci:  MIND GAME-Math
Drop, Begin Team “training” games (competitions)

6 Arts: Rehearsals of “Team”
& “Warrior”, continue making STEAM Game notebooks

7 Sci: Learning Labs
newsletter/STEAM Report given out (Due Tuesday), Ender’s Game “Battle School”
lessons & Team game

8  Early release- LABS not
open

Week Two

11 No school, veteran’s day

12 Sci: STEAM Report due,
 ORAL SURVIVAL GAME(S)- What Would You Do?

13 Arts: Rehearsals of “Team”
& “Warrior”, continue making STEAM Game notebooks

14 Sci: Learning Labs
newsletter/STEAM Report given out (Due Tuesday), MIND GAMES: Card Games (Ron
Eaglin)- Fractazmic, Pryamath

15 Arts: Rehearsals  of
“Team” & “Warrior”, continue making STEAM Game notebooks, This weekend in
Sarasota: Siesta Key Sand Art festival & Downtown Chalk Art fest (Free Art
shows!!!)

Week Three

18 Arts: Rehearsals of “Team”
& “Warrior”, finish GAMES section in STEAM notebooks

19 Sci: STEAM Report due, MIND
GAME/STRATEGY GAME (Michael Serra) Polar coordinates game, ciphers

20 Florida Aquarium Field Trip
(We know a new STEAM program is there, but Is the Quarter Quell arena there
too?)

21 Sci/Arts (Outside):
 Handout Learning Labs newsletter (but NO STEAM Report given out this
week!), Stage rehearsals for Masterpiece Showcase, Interactive Hunger Games
Quarter Quell, 5th Graders off  to see play at MSA, Hunger Games opening
night at Oakmont 8 * (Double Feature @ 5, Catching Fire at 8)

22 Masterpiece Showcase- Whole
school preforms “Team” by Lorde & “Warrior (From ‘Ender’s Game’)” by DJ
SoundHunter

25-29 Thanksgiving/Fall Break;
See you in December for “Frozen”