4th-5th Grade Explorers 2012-2013
Fall Semester Theme: GETTING ORIENTED: Exploring Points, Lines, Intersections, & Angles
Spring Semester Theme: NAVIGATING: Exploring Systems, Cycles, Spirals, Perspectives & Connections
MONDAY, September 10, 2012 MOUNT MITCHELL CAMPING EXPEDITION WEEK!
| 9:00 | Weather Data Collection Students will create a weather station for measuring temperature, rainfall, etc. and record daily on calendar grid. Results used in science/math. | Sept. Weather Data Calendars for recording daily precipitation, high and low temperatures, daylight hours, wind speed/direction for these locations: Asheville, NC, Mt. Mitchell, NC, and Fentress, Texas Students will use weather data to PREDICT the high and low temperatures at Mt. Mitchell on our camping trip. |
| 9:15 | Centering/Class Meeting Class Meeting Agenda: Review World Class Explorers Positive Discipline Plan for Individual and Collective Space and Respect Expectations Environment Questions Quests Ideas Itinerary Self-organization: Homework folder, math and writing journal, field notebook for science and social studies notes; Explorer Book Club reading log and literary analysis; sketchbook | Circle of Stones Camp Meeting |
| 9:30 | Daily Journal & Explorer Publishing Students respond to writing prompt/morning discussion in daily personal journal. Risk-taking; cooperation; literacy, communication, trust Math Journal: Explorers use math to count, number, name, measure, order, document, analyze, locate, time, compare, predict, etc. Time and Place: Measurement notes on units of time (millennium to millisecond); Place: Circle Facts for creating compass rose with cardinal directions Students will use word wall to write a paragraph about how Explorers Use math. | Goals and Reflections Choose one of the following and write a well-developed three paragraph essay. Proofread your sentences for correct spelling and punctuation. A. Write about a time you took a risk and did something you didn’t think you could do. How did you feel before? After? What did you learn? What skills did you use? B. Think of a time when you were afraid. What caused your fear? Where were you? How did you feel? How did you deal with the fear? What did you learn from this experience? |
| 10:00 | Math Groups Students grouped according to achievement in math with vertical lift | Mathlete Training Compass Rose Design Introduce COMPASS Magnetic compass, mathematical compass, and compass rose design |
| 11:00-11:55 | Research and Writing Centers | |
| 12:00-1:00 | Lunch & Recess | |
| 1:00-1:30 | Multi-sensory Language Arts Students will explore different ways of learning, practicing, using language, reading, listening, writing, and speaking (includes vocabulary, spelling, phonics, phonemics) | Elisha Mitchell Read his letter to his wife (primary source document introduction); answer questions through class discussion. Talk about hike on Old Mitchell Trail. Big Tom, Zeb Vance, Etc. |
| | Or Back Porch Time (individual research, math, and reading projects) | |
| 1:30 | Explorations Shared origin stories, myths, legends, modern literature, poetry, non-fiction, and drama from the region of the world we are studying. Students will practice Essential Learning Skills as they complete a set of Explorer challenges pertaining to the context of the geographical region they are “visiting,” virtually. Students will work in groups to design fact cards with illustrations, artifacts, (2D and 3D) for each major era, period, epoch for our hall wall timeline of NC History. | Origin Stories: Students will close their eyes and listen to the Cherokee origin story of how the earth was created. They will try to paint a scene from the story in their imaginations, listening for vivid details of color, texture, sound, setting, character and action. Later, they will be given a chance to use water colors to recreate this imaginative scene in an original illustration. Introduce the play (for campfire performance on Mt. Mitchell) HOW MEDICINE CAME TO THE CHEROKEE By Emma McDowell (2011) |
| 3:00-3:25 | PE | |
| 3:25-3:30 | Pack up and clean up | |
| 3:30 | Afterschool | |
Materials: Primary Source document: Elisha Mitchell explores the mountains In North Carolina in the New Nation, page 7.5
Letter from Elisha Mitchell to his wife while doing a geologic survey in northwestern North Carolina, 1828. Mitchell discusses his work, the places he stayed, and the people he met. Includes historical commentary as well as a contemporary map and a Google map with relevant locations marked. Format: letter/primary source
Commentary and sidebar notes by David Walbert and L. Maren Wood.
Reflections/Goals:
TUESDAY Mt. Mitchell Camping Trip
Mt. Mitchell Autumn Odyssey 2012
Dear 4th-5th Grade World Class Explorers:
We are going to begin the year, literally, at the highest point east of the Mississippi River: Mt. Mitchell. Our first expedition introduces our first semester mega-theme: Points, Lines, Intersections, and Angles. This adventure affords us the opportunity to learn in the real world, using tools (magnetic compass, night sky, and maps) to practice navigation. It also gives us a great opportunity to explore these focus points and subjects: biodiversity, botanical illustration, astronomy, environmental awareness, geology, ornithology, geography (longitude, latitude, and altitude), history, and folklore. Most importantly, Explorers build self-confidence, develop collective consciousness and trust, and get to practice the Essential Learning Skills through this real life adventure.
As always, we rely on parents for transportation, camping gear, and strategic logistical support. Thanks to the drivers and to all of you for making this adventure possible. We will have a brief meeting of all drivers on Wed., Sept. 5 at 3:30. Please bring your tag numbers so that we can register per campsite.
Fee for this trip is $25.00 per Explorer, (which includes camping and food).
PLEASE RSVP to confirm!!!
MT. MITCHELL ODYSSEY ITINERARY
We will leave OCS on Tuesday, Sept. 11th at 8:30 a.m. and return to OCS by 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 12th.
Students will need a packed snack, a lunch, and a filled water bottle for Tuesday. We will set up our tents and get settled by noon.
Tuesday, Sept. 11
12:00-1:00 lunch and orientation at Mt. Mitchell State Park Campground
1:00-3:00 Compass orientation and hike with Edie and Daniel (2.5 miles)
3:00-3:45 Trust Fall at the Pinnacle
3:45-4:00 Set up tents and campsite lessons
4:00-6:00 Wilderness Lessons (botany, ornithology, geology, climate, natural history)
6:00-7:00 Dinner
7:00-8:30 Campfire and Songs & Stories
8:30 Trust Walk for 5th graders
9:00 Reflection Circle and Good Nights
9:30 Tent time
10:00 zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Wednesday, Sept.
8:00 Stone Circle and Fire Building
9:00 Breakfast, Cleanup, and Morning Meeting
10:00-10:45 Elisha Mitchell Story, Lesson, and Sharing
10:45-11:00 Pack /Clean Up & Drive to Carolina Hemlocks Swimming Hole
12:00 Lunch at Carolina Hemlocks Campground/Picnic Area
12:45-2:30 Swimming, sketching, reflecting, nature hike for species field journals
2:45 Head back to OCS
4:00 Parents Pick Up Explorers at OCS
READ CAREFULLY: packing list for Explorers
Sleeping bag, tarp or ground cover/pad, warm clothes, hiking boots or sturdy shoes, fleece jacket, socks, hat, sunscreen, backpack, flashlight, toothbrush, undies, warm p.j.’s, water bottle, unbreakable plate, bowl, cup, silverware, large plastic garbage bag, swimsuit, towel, water shoes (optional), field journal, sketchbook, bandana, pencils, snack and lunch for Wednesday.
Please let us know if you have a tent/camping gear to loan. The following information includes Mt. Mitchell facts and directions.
Thanks for helping us take our explorations into the real world!
Edie & Daniel
THURSDAY
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