Students worked in groups to construct towers with straws, connectors, and tape. Each group consisted of members who were blind, mute, one-armed, and wheelchair confined. Besides enjoying the challenge, students learned some valuable lessons that we want to share.
As part of our "Meeting Challenges" unit, each student used the Show Me app to interview a person of their choice. Collaborative groups formulated a list of possible interview questions: e.g. What is an obstacle you have faced? How did you overcome it? Did anyone help you? Did you ever feel like quitting? What advice do you have for others? Students shared their interview project results with classmates. As a result, we invited one father to visit our class for a personal interview about how he had come from a poor,immigrant family. He shared how his personal struggles had strengthened him, and today he is a successful,family, businessman. What an inspiration!
Students have been exploring and discussing our Unit 1 reading theme, "Meeting Challenges." We have discussed acting courageously, facing natural disasters, surviving in the wilderness, facing personal difficulties, and immigrating to America. Students enjoyed using popplet.com to organize,summarize, and expand our theme.
Students recently chose the following books for book clubs: Indian Captive by Lois Lenski, The Perilous Road by William Steele, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis, Heat by Mike Lupica, and Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor. Each group has worked together to plan a calendar, activities, and guidelines for their study. We can hardly wait!
