Mr. J’s Learning Lab News
Vol. 2 Issue Seven February 2015
Absorb our SPONGEtastic new site @
THEME OF THE MONTH: SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS
This month we begin our seventh theme of “SpongeBob SquarePants” featuring the nautical nonsense of the hit TV show and movies. In science we will be doing various hands on projects as examples for some of the science (or lack thereof, I mean FIRE underwater???) featured on the show including bubbles, sponges, jellyfish, and more. In arts, we will have five thematic stations that will enable students to learn various art forms related to the world of SpongeBob including interactive games, stop motion photography, blending real/unreal art, and more. We will be learning three new songs for the Masterpiece Showcase finale on February 27th. The whole school will continue learning “GOLD” by Imagine Dragons (from our January theme) and incorporate two songs from the world of "SpongeBob SquarePants" (F.U.N. and I'm Ready)
STREAM Projects - Make your own SpongeBob character
Mr. J is emphasizing the ARTS and ENGINEERING portions of STREAM for this Month’s project. You will be using common household items and recycled materials to create your own three dimensional sculpture of a character of your choice from the SpongeBob universe. Projects are due by THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26th, but you will receive a SPONGEtastic prize and extra credit if turned in early by FEBRUARY 17th. Details on attached INFO SHEET and online at msaslearninglabs.com under the "STREAM projects" tab.
Here is a calendar for what we will be doing this month in the three learning labs:
week 1-
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 2- Arts Lab- learn new songs, begin stations (see below)
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 3- Tech Lab- work on 3 contests
WEDNESDAY, FEB 4- Sciences Lab- hands on bubble science
THURSDAY, FEB 5- Tech Lab- work on 3 contests (see description below)
FRIDAY FEB 6- Arts Lab- practice new songs, station selection #2, SpongeBob movie night at Oakmont 8 (time TBA)
week 2-
MONDAY, FEB 9- Arts Lab- practice new songs, station selection #3
TUESDAY, FEB 10- Tech Lab- Work on 3 contests
WEDNESDAY, FEB 11- Sciences Lab- Hands-on sponge sciences
THURSDAY, FEB 12- Tech Lab- work on 3 contests
FRIDAY FEB 13- Arts Lab for morning classes- Station selection #4, practice new songs, afternoon-
Peace Walk and Valentine's Dance
week 3-
MONDAY, FEB 16- NO SCHOOL- PRESIDENTS DAY
TUESDAY, FEB 17- tech lab
WEDNESDAY, FEB 18- Sciences Lab- Jellyfish and bubbles lab
THURSDAY, FEB 19- Tech Lab- Typing Web, Moby Max, FIM
FRIDAY, FEB 20- FOURTH GRADE NAEP TEST (National Assessment of Educational Progress) in morning, possible Arts Lab in afternoon- station selection #4
week 4-
MONDAY, FEB 23- Practice songs, final station selection #5
TUESDAY, FEB 24- Tech Lab- Work on 3 contests
WEDNESDAY, FEB 25- Sciences Lab- special spear throwing lab (for students who earned enough SpongeBucks) STREAM PROJECT TASKS DUE DATE!!
THURSDAY, FEB 26- Tech Lab- final day to work on 3 contests!!
FRIDAY FEB 27- Masterpiece Showcase! 12:15 p.m. @ Geckos Stage
SpongeBob stations being used in art lab this month:
Abstract sponge based art
Interactive games-3D, connect 4, etc
GoPro stop motion animation playsets (GloveWorld, FoodTruck)
Spongebob Lego creations
Real/surreal spongebob multilayer art projects
Learning Lab donations
This month the labs need some supplies to help us create hands on arts & sciences. If you can donate any of the following items, we will be as happy as SpongeBob and Patrick going Jelly fishing! Label any items with your name & earn SPONGEBUCKS for each donation. We currently need:
Kitchen sponges of any shape, size, color
Joy dishwashing soap
Bubble solutions of any size
Bubble wands, or items to make bubble wands, of any size
Acrylic paints of any bright colors
First in Math- 2015 contest- Most NEW stickers
Our school is continuing to use a new Math game website “www.FirstInMath.com” from the creators of the “24” board game. Each student has a unique username and password and will be able to access the site at school and home. The site has math games, a skill set “gym” and other features. Students must LEVEL UP to unlock bonus games and increase their rankings. This new calendar year we are looking to see who can earn the MOST NEW STICKERS on the site from January 8th to February 26!
Moby Max State Test Prep Contest
Our next focus on Moby Max is State Test Prep! Getting ready for the new FSA test (Grades 3-6) and
SAT (grades K-2), these modules are a great way to see what will be on your upcoming assessments. We are looking to see which students have the most progress and highest scores on both the modules for State Test prep: math and language by the end of February.
TypingWeb Contest
Our next contest will be the MOST WPM (Words Per Minute) average for students who have spent at least 60 minutes or more on the site practicing from January 8- February 26. 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.
Upcoming Events and Important Dates
Feb 6- SpongeBob SquarePants Movie Night at Oakmont 8 (time TBA)
Feb 13- MSAS Peace Walk, and Valentine's Dance
Feb 16- No school, President's day
Feb 27- Next Masterpiece Showcase (12:15 p.m.)
March 2- New Nintendo theme begins
March 3- FSA Writing Test (Grades 4-6)
March 23 to 26- FSA Reading and Math test (Grades 3&4)
March 27-April 5 spring Break 2015
April 13 to TBA- FSA reading & math computer based testing (Grades 5&6)
April 20/21- FCAT 2.0 Science test (5th grade)
EXPECT A NEW LEARNING LAB NEWSLETTER AT THE BEGINNING OF EACH MONTH
Upcoming themes include:
March 2015- Nintendo (Mario Bros, Zelda, Pokemon, Skylanders, etc)
April 2015- Avengers (part 2- the AGE of ULTRON)
SpongeBob FEBRUARY STREAM PROJECT
DUE WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 25th, or turn it in early (by Tuesday, FEBRUARY 17th) for Extra Credit, SpongeBucks, and a prize!
Use your ENGINEERING AND ARTISTIC BRAIN WAVES to create a three-dimensional sculpture of any SpongeBob character by using only common household objects (Sponges, plastic silverware, paper towel rolls, etc) and any recyclable materials (paper, plastic, etc)
It could be a paper towel roll Plankton, a real kitchen sponge as SpongeBob, a recycled Patrick star, etc. Be as creative as you can be!!
Label it with your name, your home base teacher, your sculpture's name, and what/how many recycled items you used to make your creation.
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