Our Next Adventure: Makerspaces and Literacy Standards

We are about to begin a very exciting adventure into a world of creativity in order to strengthen and master our content standards! We will be focusing on reading/writing informational texts, researching a specific topic, organizing and producing clear and coherent writing, communication skills, and using technology to produce and publish informational texts ([W.6.2], [W.6.4], [W.6.5], [W.6.6],  [W.6.7], [W.6.8], [L.6.2]).

Research has proven allowing students to explore their interests in the classroom helps to strengthen creativity, ingenuity, problem-solving skills, collaboration, and engagement. Many classrooms are fostering these ideas by creating a Makerspace for students. Makerspaces allow students to become “makers” by researching their interests in order to create an actual product. These spaces allow students to implement creativity as a problem-solving strategy while also applying academic standards. I have included links to research and examples of Makerspaces.

As you know, our 6th grade class is centered around the needs and interests of each student. Each day our lessons are based upon best practices in order to promote success in every student. I have been fortunate enough to learn from my students everyday. In order to continue the creative and intellectual environment that has been created in our classroom, we have chosen to  transform our classroom into a Makerspace! In order for this unit to be successful, we will need a variety of items donated for student use. I am eager to begin this amazing adventure with your students, and I plan to foster their creativity and imagination, while also mastering academic standards, through this unit.

Thank you so much!

Makerspace Resources:

http://educatorinnovator.org/lrng2015/

http://makered.org/

http://www.educationworld.com/how-create-makerspace-your-school-community

http://www.instituteofplay.org/

http://www.instructables.com/

http://www.edutopia.org/blog/classroom-makerspaces-transformative-learning-stephanie-west-puckett

Our Mathopoly Storify

Here are some of the highlights of our hands-on, minds-on Matholpoly Day where students spent the day applying their math standards to authentic situations and challenges.

Our Urban Legends on Smore

During our Mystery Unit, we learned fact versus opinion. Each group explored different ubran legends that interested us using digital and print resources, and then we used our knowledge of fact and opinion to crete these tabloid like "papers" on Smore. Also, we took our knowledge of graphic sources to add meaning to our writing. Enjoy our Smores and let us know whther you think any of these are pure fact or pure opinion. We'd love to hear your ideas.

Ellis Island Immigration Day 2013

 Last Friday we had Immigration Day. We got to experience what it was like to immigrate to America back in the 1900's. We all dressed up as immigrants and brought suitcases (backpacks, pillowcase, etc.) to make the re-enactment more realistic. First, we all sat on a boat (one of our teachers classrooms) for an hour with about 200 other people. About ten of the "immigrants" were first class and got to sit in the chairs instead of on the floor with all the other immigrants. They also got to eat cookies and got to drink punch. After the "ship" reached land, the first class immigrants got off. If you were first class and you easily passed through all of the examinations. Then, the teachers  slowly selected pairs of regular immigrants to get off. We had to go through exams and some people had to go to the hospital. Before you could go to America you had to go through Customs. These were the steps to becoming an immigrant. You had to go through Customs, Physical, Mental, Medical, Eye, and Legal Exams.

At customs we had parent volunteers and teachers check and make sure we were the person we said we were. If you didn't pass you were deported and had to go back to the ship.

Next was physical. You had to do exercises that proved you were worth passing through. If you were weak you would get deported.

Then, there was mental. You had to take a test that showed whether you were smart or not. You had to be a bright person to get passed that.

There is also medical. At medical you had to check and see if you were sick or had any diseases.

Next, was the eye exam. You had to make sure you could see properly. If you had crusty eyes you would not get through.

Last, but not least is the legal exam. You had to take a test in Spanish. At the end we went over the real meanings.

We learned a lot with this experience. We know how the immigrants felt: sad, angry, frustrated, scared, and excited. Sometimes it helps to experience it yourself. We know how hard it was not knowing other languages, maybe having a disease, or getting deported. If you did get deported, you did get to go back through, unlike the real immigrants though. The day was a lot of fun too though. Everyone was dressed up, and the teachers acted like the Ellis Island workers. I think everyone learning about immigration should do this because it makes the learning more real.

We'd love to hear your thoughts. Feel free to leave a comment.