Friday, December 25, 2009

Letter Art

The 3rd - 6th grade ACES recently completed a Letter Art digital photography project. The cold temperatures prevented the students from taking more photos outside and the scheduling conflicts (mid-year testing, confessions, etc.) didn't allow for a few students to complete the project before Christmas break. The idea got started when a friend told me she saw the bride and groom's last name photographed and given as a wedding gift during the summer. I was so consumed with trying to figure out how I could photograph my last name that I hadn't even considered it being a project for students until I saw an article in Family Fun magazine. As you can see from the slideshow, some of the students chose to photograph their last names and some their first. Some letters were found outside the school, some inside, and some were created with blocks, food, etc. The sky was the limit on this project and students were challenged to use their creativity. Unfortunately not all the finished projects were photographed for the slideshow. Another effect of hectic schedules and trying to get the projects completed and sent home before break. The kids did an outstanding job and I hope you can find a special place for these projects in your home!

Sunday, December 20, 2009

Merry Christmas


Get a Voki now!

Meet the 3/4 ACES

Sunday, December 6, 2009

Holiday Cards Map

This map shows the places our holiday cards were sent. Explore with your children to find the place on the map where their card was sent. Start by zooming out (click the - sign on the bottom of symbols in the upper left corner). I am on a journey of learning myself with all this technology that is available. I'm sure there is a way to start by seeing the United States. I'm just not sure how to make that happen. Bear with me!



View Holiday Card Exchange (Cards Sent) in a larger map

Saturday, December 5, 2009

Holiday Card Exchange 2009

St. Ambrose's ACES are participating in a Holiday Card Exchange! We are participating through a wonderful site maintained by a teacher, Jennifer Wagner, from California. She organizes a variety of projects that utilize technology. This is our first official project and we are only half-way finished and it's been a wonderful experience so far. We received a list of 24 other classrooms throughout the United States that we will send a holiday card. The students were each assigned a classroom. They wrote a letter explaining some things about our school, Pittsburg, and how we celebrate Christmas. The students also made a holiday card to send along with their letter. In return, we will be receiving 24 holiday cards from these classrooms. As we receive the cards in the mail, we will be searching for the locations on the map and really sharpening our geography skills in the process! We can't wait for those cards to start arriving.

If you would like to take a look at a map of participants, just follow the link to Ms. Wagner's Map of Participants. I shared this map with the students and showed them how to zoom in and actually see pictures of the towns participating. They were so excited to see St. Mary's Elementary on the map!

http://www.jenuinetech.com/Projects/hce09/hce2009participants.htm

CANDY EXPERIMENTS

What can you do with all that leftover Halloween candy? The 1st and 2nd grade ACES used it to conduct CANDY EXPERIMENTS! In conjuntion with the school science fair and shortly after Halloween, we conducted several experiments with candy. The boys and girls hypothesized and experimented and even got to eat one little piece of candy! The experiments and ideas came from Family Fun magazine and www.candyexperiments.com. We didn't have time for all the experiments so . . . if you've got some extra candy and time on your hands check out the site and HAPPY EXPERIMENTING!

Holiday Card Exchange

We are part of a Holiday Card Exchange that I will blog about soon. Enjoy the slideshow of some of the finished cards by the 1st and 2nd grade ACES! I provided the blank cards, ribbon, construction paper, decorative brads, and stamps. The ACES provided their creativity and design. If you'd like some holiday music to go along with the show, click on the speaker in the upper left corner.

Meet the 5/6 ACES

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Mr. Snowman