Abolitionists

Today while learning about abolitionists in social studies, the students completed a project on the iPads using the Popplet app. They made graphic organizers to help explain important information about the abolitionists of the Civil War. Below are their final products. The students did a great job!

Career Day at OES

During career day my class had an author come visit us. Honestly I have always wanted to be an author so this was very exciting for me. We learned that authors have to rewrite, rewrite, rewrite. This specific author took 2 and a-half years to write a book called Sal and Amanda. She got the idea of having salamanders for main characters because the South Carolina state amphibian is the salamander.

By: Brayson Jones

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My favorite part of Career Day was when the BSIS guidance counselor talked to us. She talked to us about how we can do anything we set our mind to. Then we did a really fun activity where you and a partner got skittles from a bag and the different colors meant different things. For example, a red skittle might represent what you love about your family. How many different skittles you had determined how many things you had to say about the topic.

By: Kayley Fowler

We also got to hear from a local bakery. They even let us decorate our own cupcakes!

Last, we heard from high school seniors. They were in student council and/or on sports teams. They talked to us about their goals for life and encouraged us to work hard in school. 

Phases of the Moon

Science

The moon phases are new moon, waxing crescent, first quarter, waxing gibbous, full moon, waning gibbous, last quarter, waning crescent, and new moon. The Northern hemisphere and the Southern hemisphere see the same side of the moon even though they are in different parts of the world because the Earth rotates.

By: Kayley Fowler

We have been learning the phases of the moon a variety of ways the past few weeks, including keeping a lunar log throughout the month where students have to record their observations of the moon nightly. We also made the moon phases out of Oreos. Yum!

-Miss Glay

Westward Ho!

This week our students took a journey west on Lewis and Clark's Corps of Discovery. Throughout the day Tuesday, they rotated to each classroom where they were immersed in different integrated activities that helped them understand the experiences and struggles faced by settlers moving west.

 

 

 

 

In the first station, students participated in three activities: 1) Building and using their own telescopes 2) Studying a real telescope, learning how a telescope works, and drawing a diagram of the telescope and  3) Reading an article to learn how Lewis & Clark used telescopes and similar tools on their journey!

 

 

 

 

 

In the second station, students learned how to design routes across mountains and streams that would have been fast, safe, and inexpensive for settlers. In order to do this, students learned to read and create topographic maps. Students were taught how to use contour lines to determine change in elevation.

 

 

Next, students created a 3-Dimensional map using play-dough. They plotted the Missouri and Missippi Rivers, the Rocky Mountains, and Lewis & Clark's journey. They also used a map scale to determine the distance of Lewis & Clark's route.

 

 

In the next stations, students used iPads and iPods to learn more about the motives pioneers had for traveling west, along with the struggles they faced.

 

 

 

This information came in handy in the next station, where students were taught how to keep a diary of their pretend journey out west! Students used information learned in the other stations to help them.

 

 

Finally, students got to meet John Colter, a mountain man, who is on his way out west with Lewis and Clark!! 

 

 

Thank you for joining us in our expedition west!

 

 

Read Across America Week

This past week was Read Across America week, which included some fun dress up days and an author visit! Below are some photos of Monday, where we wore shirts from places we've been (in recognition of Oh, the Places You'll Go! by Dr. Suess), and of our author visit. Enjoy!