Detectives in Training!!

The 5th grade students have been hard at work learning the ins and outs of forensic science! To get a better glimpse at real life police work, we visited our local Police Department! Thank you to Chief Weldon, Major Reynolds, and Lt. Crim for the awesome tour!

Major Reynolds shows us the booking area.
Things have really gone digital in here!

We are now in the holding cell!

Hopefully they never want to be in here for real!!

After a look around, they were edging toward the door!

This is the last site and sound you get when they close you in!

They were anxious to get out of the holding cell!

These students were learning about where someone who is arrested
are brought into the station and the procedures the officer takes.

Really cool exhibit in the hallway of police badges from around the country
and a few from out of country!

Chief Weldon explains the evidence collection procedures.

He also gives some great examples of types of evidence
that have been collected in the past!

These students are curious about tasers!

Lt. Crim is hoping this officer doesn't give the students a real demonstration!

Waiting their turn to go in the holding cell!

Lt. Crim gave the students a brief discussion about emergencies.

The students are liking the lights on the police car,
but they weren't thrilled with how loud the sirens were!

They got to see inside the cars too!

Most didn't realize about all the computer technology in the police cars!

Lt. Crim's car was a little different.

I think they liked hers better!

The students were able to walk through the obstacle course that
someone must pass to go to police academy.

It all starts with a big fence!

Most students really wanted to give it a try!

We also got to check out the ambulance while we were there!

Laci is excited about the ambulance!

They asked some great questions while going through the ambulance!

These students are ready for their turn!

Thank you Valley Police Department!!

We had a great time!!!

There Be Dragons Here!!

The Week B 3rd graders learned about how to brainstorm ideas to come up with new things. This type of brainstorming is called SCAMPER! The students tried out there new knowledge by SCAMPERing a dragon! See what new creatures they came up with!

Lauren, Taylor, Cassidy, Esther, Kennedy, Esteban,
Christian, and Kaitlyn made really cool dragon creatures!

Totally Tidal!!

After learning all about what causes waves, currents, and tides, the 4th grade did even more research on tide pools and the sea life that thrives there! After their research, they chose one animal to learn more about. They drew the animal and told us a fact about it. Then, they added it to our Tide Pool mural!

Great job!!

A Fisherman's Long Day!

The Week B 4th grade class created a story from A to Z using the ocean as a setting, a fisherman as the character, and cleaning up pollution as the plot. They had to come up with sentences that began with the next letter in the alphabet. See how they did!!

A Fisherman’s Long Day

            A fisherman was looking for pollution to clean up in the 

ocean. But, he could not find any pollution to clean up. Cleaning 

up the environment was important to him. Directing his eye, he saw some pollution in the water. Eager to clean up the pollution, he steered towards it. Five minutes later he was at the pollution. Grabbing his net, he heads to the side of the ship. He tried to get the trash, but it started to sink. It sank down so far that he couldn't get to it. Just in time, he expanded his net and grabbed it up! Knowing that no one was out there, he started to worry. “Look how much is left!” he said. Many pieces of trash were still left in the ocean. 

         Now he knew he needed help to clean up all the pollution in that area. Other fisherman came when he radioed for help. “Pack up the trash, take it to the shore, and throw it in the trash”, said the fisherman. Quickly putting the trash in the trashcan, they saw more pollution. Right away he went for the pollution. Sprinting back to his ship, he was at the pollution in no time. “Time to finish picking up the pollution!” said the other fishermen. Using the nets, they cleaned up the pieces of trash. “Very good job!” he said to the other fishermen. “When you need help cleaning the ocean, you should call on us!” said one of the fishermen. X-ing out the area on his map, he returned to shore. “You look tired!” said a little girl on the shoreline. Zipping his bag, the fisherman headed home for a well-deserved rest.

Eureka! Buoyancy!!

The 4th grade heard a tantalizing tale about Archimedes and how he figured out the science of buoyancy! They also learned about how mass, volume, density, and salinity all affect an object's buoyancy! To test their knowledge, they built boats out of aluminum foil and we tested which boat could hold the most marbles! Ask your student how many marbles their boat could hold!

Taysean and Alex think they have it figured out!

Jaecobey and Cayden have developed an interesting theory for their boat!

Looks like Dillion, Cadey, and Gracie are going with bigger is better!

Maylisa, Coby, and Hope are testing the strength of their boat!

Watch Where You Tread!!

5th Grade learned about Impression Evidence this week! They learned how forensic scientist and engineers look at shoe prints, tire tread marks, and bite marks to help solve a crime. Then the students participated in an activity where they had to create the tire tracks of 8 vehicles and analyze the dimensions, wear pattern, and unique tread patterns. Next the students had to match them to 8 tire tracks from a crime scene! Check it out!

Marleigh, Desi, and Jacyn getting their next track.

Sydney and Kailey working on creating a tire track!

Jacob and Jada are analyzing their track!

Laci and Meghan are working hard!

Jadon and Tyrun took a time out to pose for a picture!

Jeramiah and Ryan are analyzing their tracks!

Take a Bite Out of Crime!

After studying bite mark impressions and how they are used in criminal cases, the 5th grade completed an activity to help them understand the differences in bite marks better! The students bit into a folded Styrofoam plate and labeled their mandible and maxilla. They had to measure the dimensions of the bite and mark any unique characteristics of their bite. Then they examined everyone else's bite impressions to compare how bite marks differ.

They look like little ducks making their bite mark impressions!

They wanted a silly ducky picture too!

 

Can Gary Can the Cans?

Students wrote a story about a fisherman in the ocean who helped clean up pollution.They had to do this in alphabetical order and as a class! Here is their story!

Can Gary Can the Cans?

            A fisherman was in the sea searching for new animals. Boys saw the fisherman and they came to see him. Cans were everywhere in the sea. Dolphins were passing by trying to eat the cans because they thought they were food. Everyone thought that the dolphins would hurt themselves. Fish came up and ate the cans. Gary, the fisherman, was shocked by how many animals were starting to eat the cans. He thought he saw a dolphin choking on a can. “I think we need to get the cans out of the water!” said Gary. Jordan and his friends wanted to help Gary pick up the cans. Kindly Gary said he would help the kids get the cans out of the ocean. “Let me get some nets to get the cans out”, said Gary.

            More people came to help get the cans out of the ocean. No more cans were in the ocean after everyone was done! “Oh no!” people are still throwing things in the water! People were getting sad because there was more pollution in the water! “Quit throwing trash in the water!” said Gary. “Ready to get the trash and pollution out of the water?” said Gary. Students and communities came to help the fisherman clean up the rest of the trash. Telling people that pollution is not good is important to keep the oceans clean. Unbelievable, most of the trash is already gone! Very good, the trash is almost gone! Will the people in the future do this again? Xanthoma was not present in the fish, thank goodness! “You all should be happy that the fish are safe!” said Gary. Zoologists came and thanked them! 

Tide Pools!

The 4th graders learned about the various animals and plants located in a tide pool! They also learned about the different tidal zones! Afterward, they created a mural of a tide pool!

Great Tide Pool Mural!

Lots of Learning for 3rd Grade!

The 3rd graders were quite busy this week! They worked on researching inventors and inventions, they finished creating their first PowerPoint, they learned how to SCAMPER dragons, and build a bridge! Wow!

Piper, Jolee, Breanna, and Mica are learning to research!

Macy, Lily, and Landon are working on their PowerPoints!

Look at our SCAMPERed dragons!

Landon, Edward, Macy, Micah, and Braydon are working hard on their bridge!

Lane, Breanna, Jolee, Piper, and Lily are really thinking about their bridge!

I think they have a plan!

Is the plan going to work?