MSAS Learning Labs Theme Blog: April 2015

Mr. J’s Learning Lab News
Vol. 2 Issue 9- April 2015
Feeling “Alien”ated? Visit our new OUT of this WORLD website @
www.MSASLearningLabs.com

THEME OF THE MONTH: ALIEN ART
This month we begin our ninth theme of “Alien Art” featuring many spaced-out creations made famous by movies, science fiction pop culture, and famous books (HOME, Dr. Who, Men In Black, E.T. etc.). We will be creating and experimenting with Alien Art Artifacts in the Arts and Sciences Lab. We will be learning three new songs for the Masterpiece Showcase finale on April 30^th – The school will be learning to sing and dance to blink 182’s “Aliens Exist”, dancing to AWOLNATION’s new song “Half Moon (Bad Wolf)” and singing Rihanna’s new song from the movie HOME titled “Towards the Sun”

Like last month, the Learning Labs schedule will be affected by our lovely new state testing. Last month the 3^rd/4^th graders finished their FSA and now 5^th and 6^th grade will test in April. This extended amount of “testing time” will continue to affect the whole school’s schedule throughout the month.

Books used this month as references:

“The True Meaning of Smekday” by Adam Rex (Book that inspired “HOME”)

“Neon Aliens Ate My Homework and other Poems” by Nick Cannon

STREAM Project- Alien Technology Creation

Mr. J is emphasizing the Science, Engineering, and Technology portions of STREAM for this Month’s project. You will be using any alien species studied (from a famous book, movie, or your own creation) and create a piece of “Alien Technology” that the species may use. Examples- a Plasma Ray, a Special communicator/translator of various languages, a serum to help grow plants/foods, a bubble fueled car (ala HOME), a glowing healing finger (ala E.T.) or a memeory eraser (ala MIB).

You will make a model of what the item may look like, and include a report sheet (attached) with the following information: Your Name, your teacher’s name, a 5W- (and an H) description of your “alien technology” artifact is, and how it helps the alien species (and even the human race)

This STREAM project is NOT SCORED for FIFTH & SIXTH GRADE since they have their FSA/FCAT 2.0 Science (5^th grade) testing this month. Only K-4^th Graders will be scored for their projects this month, but grades 5/6 may turn in a project if they wish for extra credit.

Here is a calendar for what we will be doing this month in the learning labs:

This month we will have Art/Science Lab DAILY (Except on FSA/FCAT 2.0 testing days) This month our tech lab will be used for FSA CBT (Computer Based Testing)

week 1-
MONDAY, APRIL 6- Art/Sci- New Alien Songs, “Home”- 3D Oh
TUESDAY, APRIL 7- Art/Sci- New Alien Songs, “Home”- finish 3D Oh’s, Bubble Mobiles
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8- Art/Sci- Songs, Melted Wax Alien Heads
THURSDAY, APRIL 9-Art/Sci- Songs, Melted Wax Alien Heads
FRIDAY, APRIL 10- Early Release (11:30)

week 2-
MONDAY, APRIL 13- 5^th Grade FSA
TUESDAY, APRIL 14- 5^th Grade FSA
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15 – 5^th Grade FSA
THURSDAY, APRIL 16-Art/Sci- 5^th Grade FSA
FRIDAY, APRIL 17- 5^th Grade FSA

week 3-
MONDAY, APRIL 20- 5^th Grade FCAT 2.0 Science/ 6^th Grade FSA
TUESDAY, APRIL 21- 5^th Grade FCAT 2.0 Science/6^th Grade FSA
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22- 6^th Grade FSA
THURSDAY, APRIL 23- 6^th grade FSA
FRIDAY, APRIL 24- 6^th grade FSA

week 4-
MONDAY, APRIL 27- Songs, Alien Poetry and PomPom creation
TUESDAY, APRIL 28- Songs, finish creations, Avengers Art
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29- Songs, Rehearsals
THURSDAY, APRIL 30- Masterpiece Showcase (12:15)

Yearbook time! Call for photos and Cover Art Contest!

This month, Mr. J and the Yearbook club are working on creating this year’s book. If you have any photos of special events, field trips, or showcases, please email them to artslearninglab@gmail.com

As mentioned in March, we are looking for submissions for our Yearbook Cover Contest. Send in your colorful picture detailing themes used this year by April 8^th. Forms were given out before Spring Break.

First in Math- Most stickers contest continues!
Our school has 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 by EARNING stickers. Let’s see who can earn the MOST STICKERS on the site from March 1- April 20!

Moby Max State Test Prep Contest- HHHORAY to our WINNERS!
Congrats to our 30 students who finished their TEST PREP modules before the contest deadline! They will have a special Pizza Party after all the testing is over!

Moby Max BADGES EARNED CONTEST
Our next contest will be who has the most BADGES earned on the site! Log in and click on “Badges” to see how many you have earned, and compare your results on the Learning Labs Bulletin Board in the front office.

TypingWeb Contest
Our next contest will be MOST WPM (Words Per Minute) average for students who have spent at least 60 minutes or more on the site practicing from March 1 - April 28. 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! See the Learning Lab bulletin board to see where you rank!

Upcoming Events and Important Dates

· April 13- FSA testing begins for fifth and sixth grade

· April 30- Masterpiece Showcase at school, 12:15 p.m.

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

Next Month we get prehistoric with Jurassic world and Dinosaurs!

April S.T.r.e.a.m project report sheet

- Please attach to your model of the “Alien technology” you create -

Student name: __________________________________________________

HOMEBASE Teacher name: ______________________________________

The 5 w’s :

Who is your alien species ?

Where are they located?

What is the piece of technology that they use?