Lewis and Clark Learns

Mission:  Using the supplies provided, build a contraption to help the Little Red Hen carry flour. Supplies:  TinkerToys, Yarn, Bucket, 5 lb Bag of Flour Focus:  Creativity, Collaboration, Critical Thinking, Communication, and Fun

Our 4th and 5th graders are reading up a storm!  These cards represent the kiddos who have read 4 or more Mark Twain Nominees and are already eligible to vote for their favorite title in February.  Many have already read all 12 nominees and are working on the Lewis & Clark Above and Beyond list.  I am so thankful for our teachers who, during their very busy days, encourage and challenge their students to read great books.   Mrs. Haynes tracks all this reading like a boss!

The last few days my fourth graders have been working on designing and planning the catapults they will soon be building. Catapults have been our focus since the beginning of the school year.  Our catapult inquiry has led us to research many aspects of catapults, record our learning, cite our sources, and build catapults with a pre-selected set of materials.  By building with those selected materials, the kids figured out what would and would not work when building our catapults from self-selected materials. When it was time to finally design and plan, the kids could go about it in anyway that worked best for THEM.   Some kiddos scooped out the supplies available to them first. Some kids started designing their catapult on paper first. One kiddo skipped the paper option and announced he would be using 3DTin to design a 3D model of his catapult.  His idea intrigued another student who sat down and began learning 3DTin as well.   ...

Wow, forty five 3rd graders met my challenge to read ALL 26 A to Z Mysteries written by Ron Roy. We celebrated with a mystery party...the kids didn't know the day or time of the party. I can't reveal anything else or it won't be a mystery for next year's readers. Way to be independent readers !

Twenty Two 2nd graders met the challenge to read and report on 12 or more Caldecott winning books. We just had to celebrate...with milk and cookies of course. These great readers also picked out a free book to enjoy this summer. Way to be independent readers!

...they are on a mission! The Annual Lewis and Clark 3rd Grade A to Z Mystery Challenge has begun! From now until May 24th any third grader may elect to read all 26 A to Z Mysteries by Ron Roy. It is amazing to see kids reading while taking a bathroom break and even while waiting to be picked up after school. Kids who complete the challenge are invited to a MYSTERY PARTY at the end of the school year. The time, place, and treat at the party is also mystery:). So, third grade, keep reading and responding to those books!

Mrs. Baker's Second Grade Class made the newspaper! Check out that article at... http://www.kansascity.com/news/neighborhood/northland/story/1506057.html Today Lewis and Clark students will help bring attention to literacy around the world. We will be part of a group of readers who will be joining (hopefully) millions of other readers sharing the book, The Very Hungry Caterpillar together on one day. We hope to help break a reading record.