Despicable Me April schedule (including FCAT testing days)

Despicable Me April Schedule

Tu 1- Introduction to new theme, Minion Mats, Measuring Lab (Goggles and other circular items)

W 2- Rehearsal “Despicable Me (Just Dance version)” and “Happy (ASL version)” , Make GRU Logo

Th 3- MARVELous MAY SNEAK PEEK DAY- Captain America Circumference lab

F 4- DUE TODAY: YEARBOOK COVER CONTEST Early release, Mock/trial FCAT day, No Labs

M 7- Despicable rehearsals, Moon painting

Tu 8- Learn the Phases of the Moon, FCAT Trivia, STEAM report DUE

W 9- Despicable rehearsals, Moon silver point etching

Th 10- Begin blueprints

F 11- Despicable rehearsals, Minion painting

M 14- FCAT (Mr. J with 5th grade- Reading)   (after testing: Minion run app, Minion Makeover app, Minion launch challenges and more, various times/days based on testing schedule)

Tu 15- FCAT (Mr. J with 5th grade- Reading)

W 16- FCAT (Mr. J with 5th grade- Science)

Th 17- FCAT (Mr. J with 6th grade- no test)

F 18- No School

M 21- FCAT Make-up testing

Tu 22- FCAT CB (Computer based) tests (5th/6th grade)

W 23- FCAT CB (Computer based) tests (5th/6th grade)

Th 24- FCAT make ups

F 25- FCAT make ups

M 28- Despicable rehearsals, finish blueprints

Tu 29- Dr. Nefario’s Minion Labs (Fart gun, etc) STEAM report due

W 30- Despicable rehearsals, finish STEAM pages for April

Then… MARVELous May!  Featuring Spider Man, the X Men, Captain America and More!

Learning Lab News Vol. 22

Mr. J’s Learning Lab News Vol. 22- March 6, 2014

Our website has been manipulated by the Muppets! 

Visit the revised site @ www.MSASLearningLabs.com

NEW THEME:  March is for the letter M featuring the Muppets!

Each school day this month we will be doing activities that are alliterations (all of them start with the letter M twice)!  We are learning how to become Muppet puppeteers and are earning “M” Cards for every successful lesson we do! Students with the most M cards will come to Mr. J’s Muppet Mayhem Masquerade after the Masterpiece Showcase on March 21^st.

S.T.E.A.M. Report Update and Recap of week

This week, you will write and turn in your Week 21 STEAM Report about this week’s new Muppet Labs.  If you are a student not caught up on your 20 MobyMax badges, write about MobyMax instead of the labs.  For those of you caught up and on track with MobyMax, here is a recap of this week to help you write your Week 21 STEAM Report (DUE BY TUESDAY MARCH 11 for an EXTRA M Card)

M 3- Mr. J was out, we worked on Moby Max- Focusing on Math Test Prep (Technology/Math)

Tu 4- Sci- We started to make our own Muppet puppets (Engineering/Arts)

W 5- Art- We watched some Muppet videos on YouTube (Technology/Arts/Science) We made a 3 d pop up Kermit card (Arts/Science)

Th 6- Sci- Finish our Muppet puppets (Engineering), Introduced to MUPPET LABS (Science)

F 7- Art- Celebrated the new movie “Mr. Peabody and Sherman” by making mathematical bowties! (Math/Arts)

Moby Max Update

Our next Moby Max contest is going to be our biggest yet!  The TOP TEN students in the whole school who have the most badges on MobyMax by March 20^th will win Nintendo Prize packages including a DSiXL, and a game and accessory of their choice (Most badges chooses first)!! Get earning as many badges as you can by March 20^th!  Winners will be announced at the next Masterpiece Showcase.  Currently Drake and Sam have over 100 badges each!  Remember each student should be workingat least 60 minutes a week at home as well as school on MobyMax.  April’s contest is for any student that can complete both Test Prep modules (Language and Math) before April 14^th.    Check your child’s progress by logging in as a “Parent” to see how long they have been on the site and how well they are doing.  Remember, as of March 4^th students need 20 badges or more to return to the Arts/Sciences Learning Labs!

Yearbook Cover Contest

This month, students are asked to design the cover of this year’s yearbook.  At home, they are to draw an illustration that they think reflects our school and our themes we have studied this year. It ould be a picture of our mascot the gecko, and have any elements form subject learned at school this year (Science, Math, Reading, Arts, etc.), and you may include elements from our Arts/Sciences themes (Cloudy 2, Famous artists and scientists with Mustaches, Hunger Games, Frozen, Star Wars, Lego, Muppets).

The illustration should be colorful and on 8 ½ x 11 paper.  Any student may enter their drawing for the contest by April 4^th, 2014. Put your name on the back of your illustration and turn them into Mr. J by the April 4^th deadline.  The winner will have their picture as the cover of our yearbook and get a FREE Copy!  The six runner up winners will have their artwork on the back cover.

Donations of supplies

Here is a list of supplies needed for the next two months in the Learning Labs.  Anyone who brings in an item will earn a BONUS “M” card!  Items must be brought in by Wed. March 12^th  for credit.

-          Bags of Marshmallows (Any size)

-          Ready to serve pie crust                                              -Colorful fabric/yarn

-          Elmer’s glue

-          Colorful 8 ½ x 11 paper (Regular or card stock)

LEGO Land Field Trip

The trip last week was AWESOME!  If you haven’t seen the video of our great Flash Mob performance visit our website and click the “Arts Learning Lab” tab to see it! 

If you took any pictures or videos of the trip, please email them to ArtsLearningLab@gmail.com and we will use them in the Yearbook!!

Upcoming Events and Important Dates

March 8: Free ART SLAM event in Downtown Bradenton! FREE FAMILY FUN!!

March 21- Our next Masterpiece Showcase (12:15 p.m.)

March 21- Mr. J’s Muppet Mayhem Masquerade for students with most M cards

March 24-31^st NO SCHOOL!! Spring Break!!

April 1^st- We return to school for “Despicable” April … starring Gru, the Minions and the FCAT!

"M is for March and Muppets" Learning Labs Schedule

MARCH LEARNING LABS SCHEDULE: MUPPET MADNESS

This Month is brought to you by the letter M! 

Books/Media used: The Muppets by Jim Henson, Essential Muppet Guide by DK Publishing

M 3- M is for MOBY MAX!  Spend your Lab time working on Numbers and Test Prep! (Mr. J is out)

T 4- M is for MAKING MUPPETS!  Create your own Muppet using various materials

W 5- M is for MANIPULATING (PAPER)! Make your own paper Kermit pop up

Th 6- M is for MORE MAKING OF MUPPETS! Finish your Muppet puppet

F 7- M is for MR. PEABODY! Celebrate the new movie with a fancy bowtie creation

M 10- M is for MUSIC!  Begin practicing our puppeteer skills while rehearsing our new songs

T 11- M is for MAKEOVER!  Take this highly scientific test to see what Muppet you most are like

W 12- M is for MORPHING!  Morph regular paper into Muppet creations for your STEAM book

Th 13- M is for MORE MAKEOVERS!  Finish the classes tests to see their Muppet look alike

F 14- M is for MARSHMALLOW PI!  Happy Pi Day!  Celebrate by learning about the number Pi and enjoying some Marshmallow pie too!  (ALSO: JUNGLE GARDENS field trip)

M 17- KERMIT DAY ( Wear your green a.ka. St. Patty’s Day) M is for Maestro! Begin to make your own Muppet Theater play set for your STEAM book

T 18- M is for MORE!  Take the M word challenge and see if you can win this scientific investigation  all about alliteration!

W 19- M is for MAESTRO!  Finish your STEAM book Muppet Theater and components

Th 20- M is for MAJESTICAL!  Work on final rehearsals for our Majestical Masterpiece Showcase performance including a whole school rehearsal

F 21- M is for Masterpiece Showcase!  We perform “Everything is AWESOME!” from Lego Month and our Muppet Mega Mix with our Muppet Puppet creations (ALSO: Muppets Most Wanted opens!)

Then… SPRING BREAK!  See you April 1 for Despicable April starring Gru, the Minions and the FCAT!!

February 2014 LEGO Lesson Schedule

MSAS Learning Labs: February 2014 Theme- LEGO

Song of the Month: “Everything is Awesome!” from The Lego Movie by Tegan+Sara ft. The Lonely Island (Only 1 song this month due to no Showcase, Field Trip instead.  We will perform this song and one from March’s theme during the March 21st Masterpiece Showcase)

Moby Max goals- 200 or more points by February 14th (30 class based prizes)

(Plus overall badges [ends March 20], finished with Test Prep(s) [before  April’s FCAT/SAT testing time])

At Home Challenge: Master Builder!  Create any unique (do not use an instruction guide) LEGO creation using LEGO bricks.  The design should be impressively AWESOME!  Turn your finished design in by Thursday, Feb. 27th and the entries will be judged by teachers and students.  Winner(s) will be crowned “Master Builders” and earn a brick-tastic LEGO prize!

M 3- Art- Introduction to team/class “bricks” (Incentive point system), Introduction to new song (listed above), Paper LEGO Minifigure creation

Tu 4- Sci- SigFig (signature figure) Creator on iPad

W 5- Art- Cut and glue minifigure, begin adding pages in STEAM Book

Th 6- Sci- Lego Movie Maker (use iPad to film mini stop motion Lego movies), Hand out Learning Lab News Vol. 20 and blank STEAM Report Week 18 (Due Tues. Feb. 11)

F 7- Art-  In morning classes- continue adding LEGO STEAM pages, In afternoon classes- Spelling Bee, That night- The LEGO Movie “Family Movie Night” at Regal Oakmont 8

M 10- Art- Add LEGO Math pages into STEAM Book

Tu 11- Sci- Continue Lego Movie Maker, STEAM Report Week 18 due

W 12- Art- Add Lego Stamp art into STEAM book

Th 13- Sci- Finish Lego Movie Maker, Hand out Learning Lab News Vol. 21 and blank STEAM Report Week 19 (Due Tues. Feb. 18)

F 14- Art- In morning classes- Show finished Lego Movie Creations, In afternoon- Hannah’s SOARing Valentine’s Dance

M 17- No School, President’s Day

Tu 18- Sci- LEGO Building Challenges, STEAM Report Week 19 due

W 19- Art- Finish adding STEAM Pages

Th 20- Sci- LEGO Building Challenges continued, Hand out Learning Lab News Vol. 22 (No STEAM Report this week [FCAT Writing])

F 21- Begin LegoLand packet, Creative Ambush!

M 24- Continue LegoLand packet

Tu 25- FCAT 4th Grade Writing Exam [LABS not open], Hand out Learning Lab News Vol. 23  (No STEAM Report due- FCAT

W 26- FCAT 4th Grade Writing Exam [LABS not open]

Th 27- Master Builder competition, LEGO party for winning class(es) with the most “bricks”

F 28- LEGOLand Field Trip (Busses leave PROMPTLY at 8:00 a.m. - MUST BE HERE ON TIME, and busses return at 7:00 p.m. - Extended Day Field Trip!)

Mr. J’s Learning Lab News Vol. 18- January 16^th, 2014

www.MSASLearningLabs.com

In this newsletter:

      Recap of the week! (Plus next week too, only a 3 day school week)

      Upcoming event dates! (Mark your calendars)

      Needed supply donations!

      Blank STEAM Report! (Due ANYTIME before Tuesday January 28, 2014)

Recap of week(s)

 To help fill out your next STEAM Report: Weeks 16+17 (Due ANYTIME before Tuesday, January 28- You have 2 weeks to turn it in!) here is a recap of all we have done this week and what we will work on next week (only a 3 day week of school):

Monday- Practiced singing and dancing to “YODA” by ‘Weird’ Al Yankovic and “Counting Stars” by OneRepublic.  Engineered two “anchor tabs” in our STEAM notebook.  Created two acordian fold mini booklets into our STEAM notebook. 

Tuesday- Jedi Training for KNOWLEDGE: Teams competed in a bracket style playoff game involving putting a Tangram puzzle together.  Jedi Training for ENDURANCE: Students had to balance in various positions for the longest period of time.  Winners of both matches earned JEDI MASTER Yoda bucks worth 10 dollars in the Yoda Store (January 30^th).

Wednesday- We continued to practice our new songs listed above.  We created Eraser prints and Silly Putty prints of Star Wars characters using the “pink erasers” and Silly Putty donated last week. 

Thursday- We held our fourth Jedi training games for Yoda Bucks.  Students worked on MEMORY and DETERMINATION by playing Star Wars themed math games.

Friday- We will continue to practice our new songs, and add two more FORCEful pages into our STEAM Notebooks.  We will be making FORCE vocab cards and vocabulary card holders.

Next week we have no school on Monday and Tuesday.   Here is a preview of next week:

W 22: Art- Practice songs, Draw “Quarter” characters

Th 23: Sci- Jedi Training Academy part 2 [Death Star Trench Run a.k.a the 56 cent game]

F 24: Art- Practice songs, finish character drawings, Origami (if time)

Important Upcoming Learning Lab dates:

MARK YOUR CALENDAR!  SET AN ALERT ON YOUR PHONE!

January 18- AMI ChalkFest @ Pine Ave. on Anna Maria Island (Free art event!)

January 20 and 21- No school

January 30- Yoda Bucks store open at school (keep your Yoda Bucks safe!)

January 31- 12:15 p.m. Masterpiece Showcase @ MSAS

February 1- Gamble Mansion Plantation Festival and Art Show (Free event that our Art club students are entering!) @ Gamble Plantation in Ellenton

February 7- “The LEGO Movie” Family Movie Night @ Oakmont 8 on Cortez

February 25 and 26- FCAT Writing test for 4^th grade

February 28- LegoLand Field Trip (Permission slip attached)

DONATIONS of MATERIALS

This month’s Materials needed for our STAR WARS Science labs will earn you YODA BUCKS for your donation.  Current materials needed (Make sure to label your donations with family name so we know who gets the YODA BUCKS!):

Vegetable Oil                                 Antacid tablets

And… Baggies filled with Quarters, Pennies, Nickels, and Dimes

DON’T FORGET NEW MOBY MAX CONTESTS FOR 2014 HAVE BEGUN!

You must have at least 15 badges by January 22^nd to come to the LABS!  Most students have over 30 =) Some even have 90!  Make a trip to the Library for FREE internet usage (You can even call ahead and reserve a free spot for your child)

Learning Lab News Vol 17

Mr. J’s Learning Lab News Vol. 17- January 9^th, 2014

Yoda says, “REVISED & ALL NEW Our website is!”  Check it out @ www.MSASLearningLabs.com

In this newsletter:

      Introduction to STAR WARS theme!

      Recap of the week!

      Upcoming event dates! (Mark your calendars early)

      Needed supply donations for the month!

      Information on new MobyMax contests!

      Learning Labs schedule for January!

      Next Field trip form! (LegoLand on February 28)

      Blank STEAM Report! (Due Tuesday January 14, 2014)

Introduction

 This week, we started our brand new theme of Star Wars!  We were introduced to our new songs “YODA” by ‘Weird’ Al Yankovic and “Counting Stars” by OneRepublic, and all students started making their Force-filled Star Wars pages in their STEAM Notebooks as well!  We will be learning the Science used in the Star wars universe using the ideas of Force and Motion.  We will be learning about Origami and other paper craft ideas. 

Recap of week

 To help fill out your next STEAM Report (Due Tuesday, January 14) here is a recap of all we have done this week:

Tuesday- We had a “Padawan (Student Jedis)” selection to assign each student into a group for training based on their favorite color.  Students were introduced to YODA BUCKS: our currency for the month that students can earn for positive Jedi behavior (Choose the light side over the dark side!) and great academic work.  On January 30^th students will use their Yoda Bucks earned to shop in the Yoda Store.  We also played a Jedi Math game or a “Speak Like Yoda” game based on the various grade levels.  

Wednesday- We began to practice our new songs listed above.  We began engineering our Star Wars pages of the STEAM notebooks by adding “FORCE”ful Vocabulary flaps.

Thursday- We held our second Jedi training games for Yoda Bucks.  Students had to learn to control their focus of the “force” and their reflexes.

Friday- We will continue to practice our new songs, and learn about Star Wars lettering and how to fold the 5 step “Origami Yoda” which we will glue into our STEAM Notebooks.

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. 

Important Upcoming Learning Lab dates:

MARK YOUR CALENDAR!  SET AN ALERT ON YOUR PHONE!

January 18- AMI ChalkFest @ Pine Ave. on Anna Maria Island (Free art event!)

January 20 and 21- No school

January 30- Yoda Bucks store open at school (keep your Yoda Bucks safe!)

January 31- 12:15 p.m. Masterpiece Showcase @ MSAS

February 1- Gamble Mansion Plantation Festival and Art Show (Free event that our Art club students are entering!) @ Gamble Plantation in Ellenton

February 7- “The LEGO Movie” Family Movie Night @ Oakmont 8 on Cortez

February 25 and 26- FCAT Writing test for 4^th grade

February 28- LegoLand Field Trip (Permission slip attached)

DONATIONS of MATERIALS

This month’s Materials needed for our STAR WARS Science labs will earn you YODA BUCKS for your donation.  Current materials needed (Make sure to label your donations with family name so we know who gets the YODA BUCKS!):

Empty and clean 20oz. or 1 L soda/water bottles

Vegetable Oil

Antacid tablets

Food coloring

Plastic combs

Graph paper

Silly Putty

Pink erasers

Baggies filled with Quarters, Pennies, Nickels, and Dimes

NEW MOBY MAX CONTESTS FOR 2014 HAVE BEGUN!

This year we will have three contests for Moby Max!  Your new points and progress started on January 7^th so it is a new year, and anyone can WIN BIG!

In January, Mr. J and Mrs. Jolly are looking for the students with the highest GAINS in MATH!   So, in January focus on the Math tab and work hard to gain progress.  You can check your progress by tapping on the Green Elephant tab marked “Progress” then click on the label marked “See complete dashboard.” The ten students with the most math progress by January 29^th will earn 25 Yoda Bucks from Mr. J and a prize from Mrs. Jolly’s treasure bin!

In February Moby Max is giving away 30 prizes in each classroom to the students with the most overall points earned by February 14^th.  You need at least 200 points by Feb. 14^th to earn a Moby Max prize.  Click on the tab labeled “30 prizes!” to see your progress for this contest.

And finally, in March we are counting up your badges earned in 2014!  We are looking to see the top 10 students who have the most overall Badges earned from January 7^th until March 19^th.  So any badges you already earned in 2013 will not count.  The top ten students in the school will earn their own Nintendo DSiXL and other great Nintendo prizes!  Click on your “badges” tab to see your progress for this contest.

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 atArtsLearningLab@gmail.com                                                                  www.MobyMax.com

January 2014 Learning Labs schedule

JANUARY’S LEARNING LABS SCHEDULE

Theme: Star Wars/Origami Yoda

Books used: Tom Angelberger’s Origami Yoda series & Art2d2 book, Star Wars science fair, and Dianah Zink’s Forces foldables

Songs used this month: “Yoda” by “Weird Al” Yankovic and “Counting Stars” by OneRepublic

Tu 7: Science- Padawan group selections, Introduction to Yoda Bucks, Learn to talk like Yoda

W 8: Art- First song rehearsals (see above songs), Forceful vocabulary page and learn Star Wars lettering

Th 9: Science- Jedi Academy Training part 1 [Use the Force with Reflex testing, focus training]

F 10: Art- Rehearsal, Origami Yoda 5 fold yoda

M 13: Art- Practice songs, Add two “Force” pages in STEAM notebook

Tu 14: Sci- Jedi Math Battles [circular vocabulary, optical illusions, water bending, tangram challenge, dry erase battle, yo yo competition]

W 15: Art- Song rehearsals, Print art [Eraser prints, Silly putty prints, Thumb prints]

Th 16: Sci- Jedi Math battles continue

F 17: Art- Song rehearsals, Add two more “Force” pages in STEAM notebook

No school M 20 and Tu 21

W 22: Art- Practice songs, Draw “Quarter” characters

Th 23: Sci- Jedi Training Academy part 2 [Death Star Trench Run a.k.a the 56 cent game]

F 24: Art- Practice songs, finish character drawings, Origami (if time)

M 27: Art- Rehearsals, Pencil Pod racing (2 pages)

Tu 28: Sci- Mustafar Lava Lamp creations

W 29: Final day to finish Star Wars STEAM pages for the month (10 total pages, 10 points each)

Th 30: Sci- Yoda Bucks prize day [use your bucks spent to earn Star Wars prizes or experiences such as- Lightsaber Duel class, Folded Flyer creations, PEZ dispensers, Padawan apprentice time with Mr. J, Ice Saber treats, and more…]

F 31: Art- Masterpiece Showcase day- we perform “Yoda” and “Counting Stars”

Then… February is LEGO month!!!