Explorer Express: Reading Activity

This program is designed to provide the additional support to improve these students’ reading and writing skills so their literacy skills are on grade level by the end of the year. Activities will include engaging in book discussions, learning new vocabulary, and becoming research experts. Additionally, students will read independently to increase their accuracy and reading comprehension by using a leveled library appropriate to their reading level. This program activity gives students opportunities to learn reading incentives and produce their own video based on their research work.

To see the videos created by some of the 4th and 5th graders, please click the links below:

"Bus Boycott" by Anrian, Vicente, and Anthony
http://animoto.com/play/ex50y57q1bSl1TmSz3WzTQ

"Church in Alabama" by Alex, Jose, and Jessee
http://animoto.com/play/j3YJn73gm8m1btEafLGljw

Finding Freedom with Freedom Quilts

In each class we read the book The Patchwork Path and discussed the history of slavery in America and why having a secret code would have been helpful for slaves to escape.  The students inspected each symbol from the quilt in the story and some talked about which images were their favorites and why.  The students then planned and designed a quilt square of their own, some of which were based on the story we read, others on personal symbols and images.  We then compiled the single squares into one large group quilt.  

It's Good to be Different!

Diversity is still our "Hot Topic" and each class has been prompted to investigate what makes people different and what makes people similar.  The students discussed what makes them unique and different and why it's a GOOD thing to be different and a BAD thing to make fun of or bully others for their differences. 

Feeling Dizzy in Cultural Art

As a class we read the book Dizzy by Jonah Winter, a book about the life of Dizzy Gillespie.  The students then listened to Jazz music by Dizzy Gillespie and Louis Armstrong, as well as music by contemporary African-American musical artists such as the song 'Happy' by Pharrell.  They painted pictures to summarize how the songs made them feel:

 Common Core Standards addressed:

K-12.1 Understanding and applying media, techniques, and processes; 

K-12.2 Using knowledge of structures and functions; 

K-12.5 Reflecting upon and assessing the characteristics and merits of their work and the work of others; 

K-12.6 Making connections between visual arts and other disciplines.

cc.sl.4.1; cc. l 1.1