O.R.E.O. Project 2012

On Friday, September 28, we participated in the O.R.E.O. Project, where we joined classes around the world in stacking Oreos, collecting data, and sharing our experiences with each other.


First, we each had two attempts to stack the Oreos as high as we could before they tumbled. As each member in our teams stacked, we collected the data.

Here's a short video of some of us in action as we stacked our Oreos:

Then when the entire class was finished, we compiled our results--focusing only on the highest stack we each made--and found the landmarks for our data.

For the actual O.R.E.O. Project website, we only had to calculate our class average to submit online (so our data can be compiled with other classes worldwide), but we took this time to review how to calculate other landmarks as well.

 When we were through calculating, we had the privilege of having our first Skype visit with Ms.Naugle's 4th grade class in New Orleans, Lousiana. Since they weren't through stacking their Oreos, we were able to watch them and cheer them on as they stacked. We also shared some of our results with them and then they challenged us to a licking contest--which was really exciting!

Part of our Skype visit with Ms.Naugle's class included
watching them as they stacked their Oreos.

Later on, after lunch, we also had the opportunity to Skype with Ms.Kilpatrick's class from Massachusetts. Since they had finished stacking their Oreos and collecting their data, we were able to take turns sharing our results with each other. They also had finished creating their Oreo sculptures, so they shared their sculptures with us as well, which was inspiring because we'll be making ours next week.

During our Skype visit with Ms.Kilpatrick's class,
we shared the results of our data.

Check out the following video to see more pictures from our experience with the O.R.E.O. Project!

For more information about the O.R.E.O. Project, CLICK HERE.

Austin's Amazing Apple Trick

During recess on Friday, Austin3 shared with us an amazing apple trick--and we captured it on video!

Kindergarten Buddies

Today was our first day working with Mrs.Johnson's kindergarten class. Those of us not in orchestra, will be partnering up with her students once a week to help them read, work on writing, and sometimes even learn a little bit about math or science. 

Check out the pictures below of some of us reading with our kindergarten buddies:

Our Tagxedo Nametags

At the beginning of the year, we created personalized name tags by making word clouds through Tagxedo. Our main goal was to incorporate words that we felt described ourselves (our personalities, our hobbies, the important people in our lives, etc.), and we also tried to emphasize our name and class number by making it larger than all the other words since it's what we now use as our name tag on our desks.

Constitution Day

"On September 17, 1787, the U.S. Constitution was signed by thirty-nine brave men who changed the course of history [for our country]. Now Constitution Day is a time for us to continue their legacy and develop habits of citizenship in a new generation of Americans."

                                                      ~National Constitution Center



To learn more, follow the steps below in numerical order:

1. Watch this video:




2. Read this article--and fill in your notes to go along with your reading.

3. Type your name on a sticky note and post it to the wall below about one thing you learned and one question you have about the U.S. Constitution.





When you're done fill out your notes and posting a sticky with one thing you learned and one question you still have,  CLICK HERE to play "Do I Have a Right?" to learn more about the Bill of Rights and other amendments to the Constitution.

Our First Day at the Greenhouse with Farmer Curtis

Throughout the year, we will have many opportunities to learn from Farmer Curtis in our school's very own greenhouse. Today we discussed expectations, learned the names of common tools we'll use (and how to use them), and worked inside and outside of the greenhouse doing various jobs such as weeding, watering, and moving cinder blocks. When we were done, we even had a chance to taste some delicious golden cherry tomatoes, which Farmer Curtis referred to as the "vegetable candy" because of how sweet they taste. 

*Farmer Curtis leads a discussion with our class on what's expected
 from us as we work and learn in the greenhouse as well as what
we can expect from him throughout the year. 

*Natalie demonstrates how to use a hoe. She said, "You use it to make trenches." 

*Hailey gets ready to show the class how to use a shovel.
"It was really hard!" she said.

*Austin3 uses a four-tine cultivator and shows
 the class how to use it appropriately.

*Makaiah show the class how to use a garden rake.
"It was really easy to use," she commented afterward. 

*Bailey demonstrates how to use a spade fork. "The ground wasn't wet,
so it was really hard to push the spade fork in the ground," she said.

*While we have a ways to go with weeding,
we got a lot accomplished today--it was hard work!
"It was hard to weed because there was a lot,
and they were really down in the ground," said Natalie.

*In the middle of weeding, Jacob discovered a wolf spider!
"While I was watering the plants, I found this giant wolf
spider carrying her young," Jacob remarked.

*Hailey, Chesnee, Courtney,
and Lexi cultivate the outside beds.
 "The cultivator was really hard to use," Lexi admitted.

Kenson and Chase work together to move cinder blocks. 

Right before we left, Farmer Curtis encouraged us to try some
sweet golden cherry tomatoes, which he described as "vegetable candy." 

Anna shows us a golden cherry tomato she picked.

*We used these pictures to practice writing captions together as a class. The last three pictures were added after class, so I (Mrs.Allen) wrote those captions.

9/11 Remembrance Quilt

Today we reflected on a recent significant event of our United States history by creating quilt squares to remember the victims and heroes of 9/11.

We first watched a Brainpop video to help us learn and/or review the tragic events that occurred 11 years ago today, and then we used this quilt template to help us honor those who lost their lives as a result of one of the worst tragedies in our American history.

As we finished, many of us shared our quilt square with the entire class, and then we arranged them on our window as one united quilt of Room 121 in memory of those special victims and heroes of 9/11.

Huge thanks to 5th grade teacher Linda Dunnavant in Alabama for 

the inspiration for this idea, which she blogged about on her blog here!