Developing Computer Scientists is Elementary

 It's Computer Science Education Week(s)

    This month we explored the "S" and "T" in STEAM with computer science and technology.  The national Computer Science Education Week is December 7-13, 2020.  We got a jumpstart on the week by introducing smaller lessons the first week in December, so that we were ready for the Hour of Code.  JK and K classes learned about algorithms with a pirate game, teaching them directional skills as well as coding.  These students also sampled coding with Kodable and Code and Go Mouse robots.  Students in 2nd-4th grade participated in the Hour of Code through https://code.org/learn, where they learned coding with games such as Star Wars, Minecraft, Dance Party, and The Grinch. #CSEdWeek #HourofCode

    We finished out the month with our popular flashlight/glow read-in.  In a normal school year, the students would come to the Library, where it is transformed into a dark, cozy atmosphere with a virtual fireplace on the Promethean Board and instrumental holiday music playing over the speakers.  This year, the flashlight/glow read-in was brought to the classrooms.  The students could choose between reading their library books with a flashlight or listening to holiday read-alouds by the glow of their classroom devices.  It was a nice way to relax and prepare for the Winter Break with the love of some wonderful books, and of course the love of our BAS Therapy Dogs, Shadow and Alley (visiting from BHS).  💛~Mrs. Richards

 

The "E" and "M" in STEAM

 S T E A M

    With each Library/STEAM lesson, we teach based on a different letter in the accronym STEAM (Science Technology Engineering Art and Math/Media).  In November, we taught about the Engineering Design Process, engineering with manipulatives and digging deeper into our media resources with a fun activity.  We started the month out with our "Book Tastings".  Each table of students received a bin full of books, randomly selected and containing multiple genres.  The students had 1 minute to choose a book, and 2 minutes to read as much as they could to get an idea of the story.  They had the option to keep the book or put it back in the bin.  We completed two rounds, and the students were excited to realize that there are so many new books available to them that they never would have chosen without this activity.  We did this activity for two weeks, and we found the students expanding their choices for pleasure reading.  Our book requests skyrocketed.  A Teacher Librarian's dream outcome!  #brightonreads

    The engineering lessons were delivered to all classrooms JK-4th grade on our new "STEAM on a Cart", following disinfecting protocols between all classes to help keep staff and students safe.  The Engineering Design Process is not new to our Hornung students.  This curriculum has been taught for the past six years, beginning with our youngest learners in Junior Kindergarten.  The students enjoyed imagining and designing their structures!  This was the first step in bringing our STEAM Center manipulatives to the students during this Pandemic, and it was very successful.  💛⚙️~Mrs. Richards

Digital Citizenship - Keeping our Students Safe Online!

We Take Online Learning Seriously!

    What does it mean to be a good digital citizen and why is that important?  We spend the month of October each year teaching the students about important rules for being safe online.  Most of our Library curriculum on this topic comes from Common Sense Education at http://www.commonsense.org.  Each grade level is taught mini lessons weekly, along with extension activities to reinforce learning.  Students in JK-2nd created Digital Citizens with Makerspace supplies that were individually packaged for their creations to adhere to safe COVID-19 guidelines, as well as using a drawing app to create their Digital Citizen online.  For students in 3rd & 4th grades, we reinforced their learning with collaborations on Jamboard and Google Slides.

    To reinforce these important lessons in a fun gaming environment, 1st-4th grade students learned how to play Interland, created by Google.  They were excited to explore the different "Towers of Responsibility", with many students completing all of the levels either at school or on their own time at home.  This game is available all year long on our Media Center website.  We teach our students to "Be Internet Awesome!".

💛💻📱~Mrs. Richards

Hornung Media Center Website - Interland/Digital Citizenship
 

 

Welcome Back to School - It Looks a Little Different this Year!

 What Does Library/STEAM Look Like During a Pandemic?

    This past year has taught us so much about what we can learn at a distance!  The Spring brought on some great challenges, but we had fun learning how far our technology could take us to keep us connected and learning.  Fast forward to preparing for the school year, and it didn't look like we were going to be able to service our students with Library books, nonetheless STEAM curriculum.  However, we have gotten really good at thinking outside the box!

    We need to keep our students and staff safe, so it wasn't possible to start the year off with all classes coming into the Library.  So, we brought the Library to the classrooms - kind of.  We created Library Book Buses (or Library on a cart), separated by grade level selections.  These "Library on a Cart" buses are pushed down to classrooms for their weekly Library/STEAM class times.  In addition, 3rd and 4th grade students can make special requests, which are pulled for them and delivered within the same school day.

    Besides figuring out how to service our students with Library resources, we also spent September teaching students how to properly use technology in a safe way.  It was a busy month, but we were off to a great start!  💛📚~Mrs. Richards