Wednesday, October 1, 2014

Learning Lab Newsletter Oct. 2014

Mr. J’s Learning Lab News
Vol. 2 Issue 3- October 2014
Steve has crafted us an updated website, but watch out for creepers!  Visit the new site @
THEME OF THE MONTH:  MINECRAFT

This month we begin our third monthly theme of “Minecraft” starring those famous pixelated creations and biomes!  We will be learning song parodies from the Minecraft universe on YouTube.  We will learn “Revenge” and “Creeper’s Thriller.”  In science we will be doing various hands on examples of what science theories are incorporated into the Minecraft world.   In arts, we will be creating mathematical pixelated pictures and students will be creating the three dimensional cubes needed for this month’s STREAM Project.  Throughout the month, students will be earning MinecraftMoney which will be used at our RedStoneStore near the end of the month.  
Here is a calendar for what we will be doing this month in the three learning labs:
WEDNESDAY, OCT.1 - Sciences Lab- Intro to Minecraft theme, MinecraftMoney, & Minecraft Pocket Edition (MCPE)
THURSDAY, OCT. 2- Tech Lab - TypingWeb, Moby Max
FRIDAY, OCT. 3- Arts Lab- Learn new Minecraft songs, Mathematical Pixel Pictures
MONDAY, OCT 6- Arts Lab- Continue new songs, create “Crafting Table” and template
TUESDAY, OCT. 7- Tech Lab- Typing Web, Moby Max
WEDNESDAY, OCT. 8- Sciences Lab- Brewing Science, MCPE
THURSDAY, OCT 9- Tech Lab- Typing Web, Moby Max
FRIDAY, OCT. 10- NO SCHOOL! See “Alexander & the Terrible, No Good, Very Bad Day” which opens today
MONDAY, OCT. 13- Arts Lab- practice songs, Minecraft Animals/Creature art
TUESDAY, OCT. 14- Tech Lab- Typing Web, Moby Max
WEDNESDAY, OCT. 15- Sciences Lab- Minecraft Animals and Creature study lab
THURSDAY, OCT. 16- Tech Lab- Typing Web, Moby Max
FRIDAY, OCT. 17- Arts Lab- Minecraft Skins creators  
MONDAY, OCT. 20- NO SCHOOL
TUESDAY, OCT. 21- Field trip day!  Going to STRAZ Performing Arts Center to see Judy Blume and go behind the scenes!
WEDNESDAY, OCT. 22- Sciences Lab- Periodic Table of (Minecraft) Elements
THURSDAY, OCT. 23- Tech Lab- Typing Web, Moby Max      
FRIDAY, OCT. 24-  Mr. J is speaking at FCTM Math convention! Extra Tech Lab time!

MONDAY, OCT. 27- Arts Lab- Minecraft Menagerie
TUESDAY, OCT. 28- Tech Lab- work on typing web & Moby Max times!
WEDNESDAY, OCT. 29- MinecraftMoney’s RedsStoneStore is open, one day ONLY!
THURSDAY, OCT. 30- Tech Lab time & Whole School rehearsals for Showcase
FRIDAY, OCT. 31- Early release and MASTERPIECE SHOWCASE! 9 a.m. at Gecko Stage, all classes perform and whole school presents Minecraft medley for the Finale (May wear costumes)
        
STREAM Projects
Mr. J has been so impressed by the great projects turned in for the first two months of the school year!  They have exceeded Mr.J’s high standards, and he is looking to see this great trend continue in October.  Attached to this Newsletter you will find a rubric/Step guide to complete this month’s Minecraft inspired Pixel Projects.  
Moby Max October Contest
Our first contest for this school year was great!  We are looking to see students continue to accell on their MobyMax accounts in October.  This month’s contest winners will be based on the MOST TIME actively spent AT HOME on the MobyMax site.  To check your student’s time, login to their account and click the Time/Alerts module button.  
TypingWeb Second Contest
This year, Mr. Y found us a great new site that challenges your typing skills in unique ways.  This will be great learning for our new state test, The FSA, and we will be having monthly contests based on various elements from the website.  
Our next contest will be MOST WPM (Words Per Minute) for students who have spent 120 minutes or more on the site practicing.  When you log onto your Typing Web account you can practice your typing skills, play typing games, and then MAKE SURE to challenge yourself to the Typing Test!  You can take the test as many times as you wish, and each time it will let you know how many words per minute you can type.  You will have until October 29th to see if you are the winner, so keep trying and typing!

Upcoming Events and Important Dates
October 4- Ringling Museum ROAR free Library event! Must RSVP (See this website for details: http://www.ringling.org/events/roar-ringling-order-art-readers)
October 10- No School
October 11- Star Wars Reads Day, many FREE Events around town- BAM!, Central Library, etc. (See this website for more info: http://www.starwars.com/news/star-wars-reads-day-strikes-back-october-11-2014)
October 17 and 18- St.Pete Science Festival- FREE event (see: http://www.stpetescifest.org/ )
October 20- No School
October 21- Field Trip to STRAZ Performing Arts Center in Tampa
October 29- MinecraftMoney RedStoneStore @ school
October 30- MINECRAFT STREAM Project DUE!
October 31- Early Release, Costume Parade/ Masterpiece Showcase @ 8:30 a.m.
November 3- Start our Robotics/Space unit (NASA, Big Hero 6, Interstellar)
November 7- BIG HERO 6 Movie Night (Time TBA)



EXPECT A NEW LEARNING LAB NEWSLETTER AT THE BEGINNING OF EACH MONTH

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October STREAM Project

October STREAM PROJECT
This year, students will work on month long projects that reflect the current theme in all six areas of STREAM (Science, Technology, Reading, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics)
K and grade 1 students may have parent help with the writing elements for the projects (grades 2-6 should write their own)
ALL Projects DUE BY: THURSDAY, OCT. 30th  
(MUST FOLLOW & COMPLETE ALL SIX STEPS/AREAS for FULL CREDIT)
1. Technology
Ellison Machine Cube Cutting  
While in the Arts Lab this month, students will bring in thier own colorful paper they wish to use for this project.  (Cardstock works the best).  While in class, students will use their paper to cut out small two-dimensional (flat) cube templates that they can then transform and fold into three-dimensional cubes.
2. Engineering
Attach your cubes together to create something
Using your cubes you cut out in Arts Lab, fold them, and use tacky glue/ rubber cement/ duct tape to attach them together to make a three dimensional creation.  You may want to make a sketch/ blueprint of your design before putting it together.  You also may want to decorate your cubes before they are folded.  The design of the creation can be Minecraft based (Steve, a Creeper, A pig, pickaxes, Forest trees, Endermen, etc) or one of your own design.  
3. Arts
Decorate your cubes/creation
Using any art materials you have (paint, washi tape, markers/chalk, etc.)  decorate your three-dimensional design.  
4. Math, 5. Science, & 6. Reading
Fill out attached INFORMATION SHEET for these three areas.  
Using your three-dimensional engineered creation to help fill out the back of this sheet.


OCTOBER MINECRAFT STREAM PROJECT INFORMATION SHEET  
Student Name:

Homebase teacher:
Reminder: TURN COMPLETED PROJECT & THIS INFORMATION SHEET (for Sections 4/5/6) INTO Mr.J by THURSDAY OCT. 30th

MATH:
How many cubes in all did you use to make your creation?

What are the following measurements:
The length of one of your cubes used:
The TOTAL length of your finished creature:
4th-6th grade: What is the volume of your finished design?
What is the Surface Area of your finished design?

SCIENCE:

Name your creation:
Classify your creation (What species is it? -can be fictional-):

READING:
Write three fun or interesting details about your creation (can be fictional):

1.






2.





3.
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Minecraft Learning Sites


MATH




SKINS



BREWING


STORY STARTERS

SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS



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