3. We will be introducing and working with manyWe will be introducing and working with many
skills and strategies this year, such as:skills and strategies this year, such as:
•Critical ThinkingCritical Thinking
•SCAMPERSCAMPER
•Creative and Spontaneous Problem SolvingCreative and Spontaneous Problem Solving
•Logic ProblemsLogic Problems
•DeductionDeduction
•Ocean Creature ResearchOcean Creature Research
First Grade is theFirst Grade is the beginning ofof
our PAT Program.our PAT Program.
4. Ocean CreatureOcean Creature
ResearchResearch
Ocean Creature Research will be conducted in
the Spring.
Students will research Ocean Creatures in small groups
of two or three.
Skills we will be working on during our research unit are:
• Brainstorming
• Note-taking
• Evaluation
• Creativity
• Presentation Skills
6. 2nd Grade Research:
Dinosaurs
Through second grade dinosaur research, the students will
investigate the appearance of their dinosaur; discover the
environment in which their dinosaur lived; examine its
behavior; and uncover many interesting facts about a
particular dinosaur. Next, they will research the different land
biomes of the world and explore how these environments
impact the plants and animals that live there. Then, they will
create a biome scene and a dinosaur they have made
adaptations to so it would be able to survive in its new
environment. Finally, the students will present their
information to an audience.
7. 2nd Grade Research - Dinosaurs
Coelophysis Interesting Facts
The Coelophysis was one of the earliest
meat- eating dinosaurs. The name
Coelophysis means “hollow form”. The
Coelophysis was built for speed. It may
have traveled in groups.
8. Incline Plane
Wedge
Lever
Screw
Wheel
Pulley
22ndnd
Grade Simple Machines ResearchGrade Simple Machines Research
Focus on
6 simple Machines
• Each student will work with a group and become an
“expert” on their assigned simple machine.
• They will take notes from articles and present their
findings to the class in the form of a verbal presentation
and a hands-on demonstration.
• Students will participate in a Digital Photo Scavenger
Hunt.
• Spontaneous/Creative Problem Solving Activity: Using
knowledge gained from their research, students will
design a Wolf Trap that incorporates simple machines.
This complex machine will capture the Scientific Wolf
and save the 3 Pigs. They will present their Wolf Trap to
class demonstrating and pointing out how each Simple
Machine was used.
Simple Machines allow man to do more work with
less effort. In our research, we will discover what
simple machines look like and what they are used
for, determine how they work, and identify examples
of simple machines in the real world.
9. 33rdrd
GradeGrade
• Discovery requires taking risks
• Discovery can lead to new solutions
• Discovery requires a combination of
flexibility and stubbornness
• Discovery often leads to new discoveries
10. National Park Research
Teams of 3 will present
information about a
National Park from the
points of view of a
Park Ranger,
Conservationist, and
Tourist.
11. Spy Sch l
Third grade students work in small
groups as they participate in
“Spy School”.
During the simulation, they
investigate the structure of
language, learn about types of
ciphers and codes, and encode and
decode secret messages to find Dr.
Fonee and save the world.
12. 44thth
GradeGrade
• All structures have a purpose or function
• Structures have parts that interrelate
• A structure is no stronger than its weakest
component
• Structures can be natural or manmade
13. 4th
Graders take a look at….
Forensics-looking at the
science and the thinking
behind solving mysteries
Creative Minds-exploring
traits of creative thinkers
such as Rube Goldberg
and how they reinvent the
world around them.
15. 55thth
GradeGrade
• Systems are composed of two or more
related components
• A system may be influenced by other
systems
• Parts of systems are interdependent upon
one another and form a relationship of
mutual interdependence
• Systems follow rules
16. Service Learning
Students actively participate in
the process of understanding,
integrating and applying
knowledge in various subject
areas as they work to improve
their communities. Service
learning differs from
volunteerism or community
service because the education
of students and young people
is always at its core.
Each of us makes a difference.
Together we can make a change.
17. Marketplace
Market Place Grand Prairie is a real
world simulation in which
students run the city for the day.
Students participate in an
engaging, challenging curriculum
in which they learn the principles
of economics, personal and
business finance, budgeting and
much more. Cooperative learning
and decision-making are
imbedded in the day as young
entrepreneurs take out bank loans,
create advertising for their
business, make bank deposits, and
become consumers.
