January/February Highlights
Language Arts: A Google Inspired... Genius Hour Project
Math: Dimensional Design Project
- Did you know that Google allowed their employees to spend 20% of their time on the job exploring new concepts, ideas, and interests that may not have been in line with their job description!?! As a result, different technology tools such as Google Drive were born! Students are being given the opportunity to participate in a project similar to the Google employees. The project is called "Genius Hour- a 120 minute project." Students will be given approximately 120 minutes during each school week to explore, research, and learn about a topic they are interested in either on their own or with a partner. Students have recently selected their topics for "Genius Hour" and the topics are: An SVE Food Drive, Magnetic Experiments, and Cartoon Writing and Digital Animation!
Math: Dimensional Design Project
- Students have recently begun a math project titled, "Dimensional Designs." Students become interior designers/contractors for a hotel being built in the area. They are responsible for furnishing every standard room and suite based on specific requirements. "Dimensional Designs" has 3 layers:
- 1D: The ONE DIMENSIONAL layer is where the students complete a contractor order form and purchase different furnishings for each type of room. The students then learned how to calculate sales tax and apply an interest rate for purchases that exceeded the spending limit. The final step of 1D is to categorize purchased items, complete a frequency table (fractions, decimals, and percents), and use the data in the frequency table to create computer-generated graphs.
- 2D: The TWO DIMENSIONAL layer requires students to become architects and develop blueprints for a standard room and a suite. Students will use graph paper or an online program to design the rooms. Area, perimeter, and scale drawings will be the math focus for this layer of the project.
- 3D: The THREE DIMENSIONAL layer emphasizes a hands-on approach to learning. Students will apply their understanding of volume and surface area in order to build and construct a 3D model of either their standard room or suite. The students will also furnish the room with miniaturized versions of the purchased items from the 1D sections.