Literature Study

Fifth grade Enhanced Learning students are completing a literature study of The Wright 3 by Blue Balliett.  While reading the book, the students explored many topics touched on in the book including codes, Fibonacci numbers, art, museums, Frank Lloyd Wright, and architecture.  Students also posted answers to questions related to each week's reading assignment in an online blog. After completing the novel, the students worked in groups to create newspapers that demonstrate what they learned.  

All the Briarwood Enhanced Learning students have been working this quarter on Creative Problem Solving.  CPS involves several steps including identifying the mess or problem, finding facts, brainstorming and evaluating solutions, and developing a  plan of action.  Third grade students have learned these steps by working through several problem scenarios.  Fourth, fifth and sixth grade students are practicing their creative problem solving skills by working in groups to develop a skit that includes specific elements.  The fourth grade problem is called Travel through Time and requires the team to demonstrate a trip to the past, with visits to two sights and an experience at each sight.  Fifth grade students are working on Game Show, developing an original game show with a special surprise and created for a specific target audience.  Sixth graders problem, Good News, requires them to present a news show that includes three positive news stories, and includes a simulation.

Zoology

Students in third through sixth grade have been developing their descriptive vocabulary, classification, and creativity through this science discovery.

Third and Fourth graders are creating new animals for a science fiction movie.  While the Fifth and Sixth graders have discovered an island with creatures on it that no one has ever seen before.  They must all know the characteristics of mammals, amphibians, birds, reptiles, etc. in order to classify their new animals.