Standard 7

STANDARD 7
Students engage collaboratively in authentic inquiry during ongoing units of study.
Concept 1 - Students are provided opportunities to work collaboratively during project and inquiry-based units of study.
Concept 2 - Learning experiences provide opportunities for students to engage in authentic inquiry that requires problem identification, investigation, and analysis.
KINDERGARTEN
The class read the book, How Big is a Foot? and then they made a bed fit for "a queen" (who also happened to be one of the K5 students). When she laid down in her bed, the class discovered that she did not fit! The students had to figure out a way to make a bed she would fit in using non-standard units. After they updated the bed, the students used standard and non-standard units of measure to discover the length of different items in their classroom. 
Bed STEM

The class read Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf and then discussed the changing of the seasons. The students were challenged with planning and building a free standing Fall tree.
Leaf STEM

FIRST GRADE
After several weeks of reading fiction and nonfiction books about apples in the ELA block, the students created an orchard of red and green apples. The students had the challenge of creating a tool or device that would be able to pick the apples from the apple tree without using their hands. The students were given paper and tape to create their apple picking device. Each student was given two attempts to pick an apple. After the first attempt, the students had to rethink and revise their device based on the data they collected. They were challenged to see if they could pick two apples on the second attempt.
Apples STEM

The class studied lights and shadows. Then, they investigated different objects with a flashlight to determine if the objects were transparent, translucent, or opaque.
Light STEM

SECOND GRADE
The second graders were given a paper plate and clay to demonstrate what they had learned about geographical landforms in their geography unit. The students could work with other students on this project. 
2nd

The second grade students learned about and researched Native American tribes from each region of the United States. They were challenged to use their research and select a Native American tribe and create a scene that would depict what it would have looked like in history. Then, the students created a monologue through a green screen program and became the Native American living in their design. 

2nd

RELATED ARTS
The fifth grade students observed a variety of leaves. Then, they discussed the cycle of the of the leaves and the purpose of the veins. After, they placed the leaves on the table with the vein side up, covered the leaves with paper, and rubbed over the leaves to create their artwork. 
LEAF STEM