March 2015 Learning Lab Newsletter

Mr. J’s Learning Lab News
Vol. 2 Issue 8- March 2015
Visit our new NINTENDO-TASTIC, Mario-riffic, Poke-llent, Sylanderish website  @
 www.MSASLearningLabs.com

THEME OF THE MONTH:  NINTENDO CREATIONS featuring Mario Bros., Zelda, Sonic, Pokemon, and Skylanders

This month we begin our eighth theme of “NINTENDO Creations” featuring the many digital worlds designed by the famous Japanese company .  We will be learning the Art and Sciences it takes to create these worlds including making our own side-scrolling paper Mario games, Creating our own world Maps, and designing our own Pokemon and Skylander characters.  Students will also be using SCRATCH to learn about Coding and Game creations.  We will be learning four new Nintendo based songs for the Masterpiece Showcase finale in April (No Showcase in March as we will be in testing mode for the new FSA for third and fourth grade).  The whole school will be learning “Mario Theme (DUBSTEP MIX)” “Pokemon Theme (Johto Region)” “Sonic Colors: Reach for the Stars” & “Skylanders Trap Team Rap”

STREAM Projects - SCRATCH Creation!

Mr. J is emphasising the Technology portions of STREAM for this Month’s project.  You will be using the science of the internet to learn about coding.  Coding is what designers use for video games and websites.  MIT has created a child friendly site to learn about code and make your own creations/games.  This month students will work on the site and email Mr.J (ArtsLearningLab@gmail.com)  a link to their creation:

http://scratch.mit.edu/  THE MAIN SITE

http://scratch.mit.edu/projects/412866/#editor A LINK TO A PREMADE MARIO GAME CREATOR

Learn more about code at: http://hourofcode.com/us  or http://code.org/

This STREAM project is OPTIONAL for THIRD & FOURTH GRADE since they have their FSA testing this month.

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 testing days) as the tech lab gets ready for FSA CBT (Computer Based Testing)

week 1-
MONDAY, MARCH 2- Art/Sci- Songs, Side Scrolling Games
TUESDAY, MARCH 3- FSA WRITING TEST (Grades 4,5,6)
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4- Art/Sci- Songs, Side Scrolling Games
THURSDAY, MARCH 5-Art/Sci- Songs, Side Scrolling Games
FRIDAY, MARCH 6- Art/Sci- Songs, Side Scrolling Games

week 2-
MONDAY, MARCH 9- Art/Sci- World Map creations
TUESDAY, MARCH 10-Art/Sci- World Map creations
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11-Art/Sci- World Map creations
THURSDAY, MARCH 12-Art/Sci- World Map creations
FRIDAY, MARCH 13- Human Mario Creation (For students who earned it)

week 3-
MONDAY, MARCH 16-Art/Sci- Character creations
TUESDAY, MARCH 17-Art/Sci- Character creations
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18-Art/Sci- Character creations
THURSDAY, MARCH 19-Art/Sci- Character creations
FRIDAY, MARCH 20- Art/Sci- Character creations, Divergent:Insurgent Faction Test (For students who earned it)

week 4-
MONDAY, MARCH 23- FSA TEST (Grades 3,4)
TUESDAY, MARCH 24- FSA TEST (Grades 3,4)
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25- FSA TEST (Grades 3,4)
THURSDAY, MARCH 26- FSA TEST (Grades 3, 4)
FRIDAY, MARCH 27-  NO SCHOOL- SpRiNg BrEaK 2015 begins!

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 to unlock bonus games and increase their rankings.  This year we are looking to see who can earn the MOST NEW 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 the testing is over!

Moby Max BADGES EARNED
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.

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 20.  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

March 3- FSA Writing test (Grades 4,5,6)
March 23 to 26- Third & Fourth grade FSA TEST
March 27- Spring Break begins
April 6- School resumes with our Avenging Aliens theme (Marvel’s Avengers: Age of Ultron and other Alien creations- Men In Black, Aliens in the Attic, E.T., Etc.)
April 13- FSA testing begins for fifth and sixth grade


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

February 2015 Spongebob 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.

Learning Lab Newsletter February 2015

Mr. J’s Learning Lab News

Vol. 2 Issue Seven February 2015

Absorb our SPONGEtastic new site @

www.MSASLearningLabs.com

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.

Harry Potter January STREAM Project (For Mrs. Peace, Kalaman, Earl, and Babauta's classes)

January STREAM PROJECT

HARRY POTTER (For students in Mrs. Peace, Babauta, Kalaman, and Earl’s classes)

This month’s project involves accomplishing various online/digital tasks related to a special website created by author J.K Rowling, and her famous Harry Potter books and movies.  Each task is worth 20 points each, and will earn you a GOLDEN Galleon of Gringott’s Bank from Mr. J!  If you do not have internet access at home, see if someone you know has a device you may use (smartphone, tablet, etc) or visit the local library (call ahead and they can reserve a spot for you) to accomplish the following five tasks:

Task 1
Go to the website www.Pottermore.com and have a parent/guardian help you register and activate a FREE account.  Once activated, go on the website, visit Diagon Alley and select your wand and house pet for Hogwarts.

Task 2
Once you have been to Diagon Alley, travel to the Grand Hall at Hogwarts and let the sorting hat select your house.

Task 3
Add Mr. J’s username: FlightOwl14576 to your friend’s list so he can see your progress.

Task 4
Earn at least 15 house points and 3 badges by the Jan. 28th deadline.  (For each 3 badges and 15 house points you earn, Mr. J will give you 1 Galleon from Gringotts Bank- for special at school prizes/awards)

Task 5
Using a cell phone or other digital device film a short video review talking about your favorite parts about the Pottermore website and/or the Harry Potter books and movies.  Send the video, or link to it, to Mr. J’s email- ArtsLearningLab@gmail.com

You will have until WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28th to accomplish all five tasks and send Mr. J the digital proof =)

Dr Seuss January STREAM Project (Miss Gregory, Ms. Duncan, and Mrs. Taylor)

January STREAM PROJECT

DR. SEUSS  (For students in Miss Gregory, Mrs. Taylor, and Ms. Duncan’s classes)

This month’s project involves accomplishing various online/digital tasks related to a special website for Dr. Seuss, and Dr. Seuss’ famous books.  Each task is worth 20 points each, and will earn you a GOLDEN Dookla from Mr. J!  If you do not have internet access at home, see if someone you know has a device you may use (smartphone, tablet, etc) or visit the local library (call ahead and they can reserve a spot for you) to accomplish the five tasks:

Task 1
Go to the website www.Seussville.com and have a parent/guardian help you register for a FREE account.  Click on the “You have __ Dooklas” button to get to login screen, then click on “Register”

Task 2
Create your own WHO creation that will become your SeussVille avatar.  When finished making your WHO send it to Mr. J via the email link.  Send your WHO to artslearninglab@gmail.com

Task 3
Under the “characters” tab look at all the Seuss creations and pick your favorite one.  Use the blue camera icon to take a digital “picture” of your favorite character.  Send the picture to Mr. J at artslearninglab@gmail.com

Task 4
Pay Dr. Seuss inspired games under the “Games and Activities” tab to earn “Dooklas”.  Once you get at least 10 Dooklas, have your parent/guardian snap a picture on their phone/device featuring you and your Dookla counter showing how many you have earned (must be 10 or more)

Task 5
Film a short video on your parent/guardian’s phone/device of you reading a few pages of a Dr. Seuss book (can rent from library, read in a bookstore, etc.) and send the video or link to the video to Mr.J’s email artslearninglab@gmail.com
Suggested books for grade levels:
Kindergarten- Hop on Pop
First Grade- One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish
Second Grade- Cat in the Hat
Third Grade- Green Eggs and Ham/ The Lorax

You will have until WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28th to accomplish all five tasks and send Mr. J the digital proof =)

January 2015 Learning Labs Newsletter

Mr. J’s Learning Lab News

Vol. 2 Issue 6- January 2015

Visit our new UNIVERSALLY AMAZING, SEUSS-tastic, Potter-rific site @

www.MSASLearningLabs.com

THEME OF THE MONTH:  READING IS UNIVERSAL featuring Dr. Suess (Gregory, Taylor Duncan) and Harry Potter (Peace, Kalaman, Earl & Babauta)

This month we begin our sixth theme of “READING is UNIVERSAL” featuring two famous literary worlds featured in Universal Orlando’s theme parks.  In science we will be doing various hands on examples from the world of Dr. Seuss and Potions and Wanding from the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.   In arts, we will be creating social studies and scientific pictures and paintings related to London (Paddington/Harry Potter),and creating Dr. Seuss/JK Rowling inspired art.  All classes will be learning about Gold (Au) in Art & Science and try and earn pieces of gold (Galleons from Harry Potter’s Gringotts Bank & Dooklas from SeussVille) for their academic progress.  We will be learning three new songs for the Masterpiece Showcase finale in February (No Showcase in January as we will be on the Universal Field Trip).  The whole school will be learning “GOLD” by Imagine Dragons & younger students will learn a Seussical medley while older students will learn the Frog Chorus “Double Trouble” from Harry Potter.

STREAM Projects - Interactive Sites!

Mr. J is emphasising the Reading and Technology portions of STREAM for this Month’s project.  You will be using the science of the internet to work on an interactive site and have digital tasks to send to Mr. J in order to earn GOLD for your work! (see attached info sheet)

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

week 1-

WEDNESDAY, JAN 7- Sciences Lab- For Harry Potter (HP)- introduce Pottermore website, and learn about Au (Gold), For Dr. Seuss (DS)- introduce SeussVille website and Gold Coins (Dooklas)

THURSDAY, JAN 8- Tech Lab- work on 3 contests (see description below) and Pottermore/Seussville

FRIDAY JAN 9- Arts Lab- (HP) practice new songs GOLD and Double Trouble , Owl pictures, (DS) practice new songs GOLD and Seussical, Dr. Seuss Cat Hat pictures

week 2-

MONDAY, JAN 12- Arts Lab- (ALL) practice new songs, (HP) finish owls (DS) Finish cat hat rhyming pictures

TUESDAY, JAN 13 - Tech Lab- Work on 3 contests and Pottermore/Seussville

WEDNESDAY, JAN 14- Sciences Lab- (HP) Hands-on Potions lessons, (DS) Green Eggs and Ham science

THURSDAY, JAN 15- Tech Lab- work on 3 contests and Pottermore/Seussville

FRIDAY JAN 16- Arts Lab- (ALL) practice new songs, London/Diagon Alley pictures- HP and Paddington

week 3-

MONDAY, JAN 19- NO SCHOOL- MLK JR DAY

TUESDAY, JAN 20- NO SCHOOL

WEDNESDAY, JAN 21- Sciences Lab- (HP) Wizarding Wand Science, HP chain letters (DS) What’s in the Hat, Lorax Tree/Earth & Sneech Sciences

THURSDAY,JAN 22- Tech Lab- Typing Web, Moby Max, FIM... Seussville, Pottermore

FRIDAY, JAN 23-  Arts Lab- (ALL) practice songs, (HP) Harry Potter portrait/lettering (DS) Lorax staches, sneech stars

week 4-

MONDAY, JAN 26- Arts Lab- (ALL) practice new songs, (HP) Finish Harry Potter portrait/lettering (DS) Finish Lorax staches, sneech stars

TUESDAY, JAN 27 - Tech Lab- Work on 3 contents and Seussville/Pottermore

WEDNESDAY, JAN 28- Sciences Lab- STREAM PROJECT TASKS DUE DATE, look at results, play Seuss/Harry Potter trivia, See who has the most GOLD!?!?!

THURSDAY, JAN 29- Tech Lab- work on 3 contests!

FRIDAY JAN 30- UNIVERSAL FIELD TRIP!  

First in Math- 2015 contest- Most NEW stickers

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 to unlock bonus games and increase their rankings.  This 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 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

Jan 19/20- MLK weekend- No School

Jan 28- STREAM project components due to Mr. J (see attached info sheet)

Jan 30- Universal Field Trip featuring SeussLanding and the Wizarding World of Harry Potter with special Harry Potter celebration events

Feb 27- Next Masterpiece Showcase (12:15 p.m.)

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

Upcoming themes include:

February 2015- Sponge Bob Square Pants

March 2015- Nintendo (Mario Bros, Zelda, Pokemon, Skylanders, etc)

April 2015- Avengers (part 2- the AGE of ULTRON)

May 2015- Jurassic World/Dinosaurs

December Newsletter

Mr. J’s Learning Lab News

Vol. 2 Issue 5- December 2014

Visit our new MUSEUM tastic site @

www.MSASLearningLabs.com

THEME OF THE MONTH:  NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM

This month we begin our fifth theme of “NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM” featuring the famous museums featured in the classic film trilogy.   In science we will be doing various hands on examples from the Smithsonian museum featured in the second movie, and get a visit from the Public Archeology Florida team.   In arts, we will be creating social studies and scientific pictures and paintings related to New York and London, home cities of the Natural History museums featured in the first and third movies.  We will be learning three new songs for the Masterpiece Showcase finale.  The three songs represent the 3 different cities/ museums featured in our theme- “Welcome to New York” by Taylor Swift (NYC/Natural History Museum). “I’m justa Bill” from School House Rock! (Washington, D.C./Smithsonian museum, and “London Calling” by The Clash (London/British History Museum)

STREAM Projects - No project this month, next project in January 2015

Mr. J has been so impressed by the great projects turned in for the first four months of the school year!  Therefore, he is giving you a month off to enjoy the holiday season!  That’s right: NO STREAM PROJECT THIS MONTH! You can still turn in your November Dodecahedron if you haven't turned it in yet, or you may enter the USF Young Inventor competition (see http://usfyounginnovator.com/entry-form/ for info- all entries get a free pass to MOSI!)

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

week 1- School Book Fair!  Come shop for the Holidays!  Pick up great books based on our previous or upcoming themes!

Mr. J in Front office all week, 5 days of TECH LAB to work on the three contests this month! MATH it UP!! (see details on next page)

Saturday, December 6- Weekend Field Trip!  Night at the South Florida Museum!  4-8 p.m. (Discounted admission, special events, and more!  Details attached…)

week 2-

MONDAY, DEC 8- Arts Lab- practice new songs, NYC pictures based on Natural History Museum TUESDAY, DEC 9 - Tech Lab- Work on 3 contents

WEDNESDAY, DEC 10- Sciences Lab- Hands-on Smithsonian lessons

THURSDAY, DEC 11- Tech Lab- work on 3 contests

FRIDAY DEC. 12- Arts Lab- practice new songs, London pictures based on British Museum

week 3-

MONDAY, DEC 15- Arts lab- SPECIAL GUESTS: Public Archaeology group

TUESDAY, DEC 16- Tech Lab- Typing Web, Moby Max, FIM

WEDNESDAY, DEC 17- Sciences Lab- Finish three museums info, whole school rehearsals

THURSDAY,DEC 18- Tech Lab- Typing Web, Moby Max, FIM...

FRIDAY, DEC 19-  Masterpiece Showcase at 12:15

THEN… WINTER  BREAK!

New MATH website!  First in Math- second monthly contest

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 to unlock bonus games and increase their rankings.  This month we are looking to see who can earn the MOST STICKERS on the site by Dec. 18!

Moby Max December Contest

Our next focus on Moby Max is MATH GAINS!  We are looking to see which students have the most progress on all the math based modules: Math, Numbers, & State Test Prep Math.  We will see who makes the most “learning gains” this month.

TypingWeb December  Contest

Our next contest will be MOST WPM (Words Per Minute) average for students who have spent at least 45 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 Dec. 19th to see if you are the winner, so keep trying and typing!

Upcoming Events and Important Dates

December 6- NIGHT at the MUSEUM event at South Florida Museum (discounted admission, 4-8 p.m.)

December 15- Florida Archeology Guest speaker in the Learning Labs!

December 19- Masterpiece Showcase (12:15 p.m)

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

SEE YOU IN 2015! Upcoming themes include:

January 2015- Reading is UNIVERSAL (Harry Potter, Dr.Seuss)

February 2015- Sponge Bob Square Pants

March 2015- Nintendo (Mario Kart, etc)

April 2015- Avengers (part 2)

May 2015- Jurassic World

South Florida Museum Family Night- Night At The Museum

Saturday, December 06, 2014 4:00 PM

• The Museum is open until 8:00 p.m. and admission is half price after 4:00 p.m!

On one special night in December something happens at the museum… history comes alive! Come watch as the exhibits come to life and then meet the many people across time who we have helped shaped our state's amazing history. Meet the ancient Paleoindians who arrived in Florida some 12,000 years ago, Tocobaga and Timucuan fishermen who greeted the Spanish Conquistadors in 1539 and the early American pioneers who settled here in the 19th century. Learn from actors portraying the life of collectors Montague Tallant and William Clendenin about the discovery and care of precious artifacts and specimens.  With costumed actors, live music, old Florida recipe tastings and interactive games history has never felt more alive!