S.T.E.A.M. Fest at Gattis

First annual STEAM Festival was held at Gattis Elementary on April 19th.

Students and community members displayed and lead demonstrations related to Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math for everyone to enjoy. This night will take the place of our usual Science Fair. Students in the 4th and 5th grades students all contributed a project of their choice to complete. Several students from K-3 participate, as well.

First Grade Explores Math Online

Why not explore math on computers? There are so many interactive sites that kids get motivated to learn on. Here students had a choice of a few math online activites to help them learn the skills they are working on in class. If you want to explore some educational websites with your students, check out the Gattis Student Resource page at https://gattis.roundrockisd.org/students/

ABCya Math = Happy 1st Grade

Mrs. Weimann's class explored ABCya's Numbers activities online at http://www.abcya.com/first_grade_computers.htm#numbers-cat  Students work on laptops in the classroom and were able to select a numbers activity to work on. After you get a certain amount right you get a "bonus game" one student told me.  Several students were very excited to show me how well they could solve the math problems. Great thing about abcya.com is that students can choose their grade level, then the subject and then a more specific topic.

Mystery Number

Ms. Carlson's class tried a Mystery Number Hangout.  The mystery number is guessing a number between 1 -100.  You use yes or no questions.   

For example:

•  Is your number greater than 50?   
• Is there a 5 in the ones place?
• Is it a 2 digit number?    

It helps to have a 100 chart so students can cross off numbers as you go.   For older grades, they could use larger numbers, but the hosts should probably set up the perimeters prior to the call.   

Ms. Calrson's class being mysterious!

Gattis Celebrates Pi Day

Everyone loves pie!  Mr. Brillhart really loves Pi!  His class celebrated March 14, 2015 with a Pi day Gattis style!  They were even featured on the RRISD Webpage at https://roundrockisd.org/gattis-celebrates-pi-day/

More and more Math Activities

This just in!  Gattis Teachers of all grade levels collaborated to make a HUGE list of Math websites. If you joined us for Math Night last night, a teacher from each grade level highlighted a site and talked about how it met with our TEKS and units studied at RRISD.  To get to the page of Math Sites go to our Gattis Webpage at http://gattis.roundrockisd.org/ Click on Resources, For Students then the link to "Math Websites" on the left side.

Math and Graphs

We have a program installed called Kidspiration. This application has tons of templates that students can use for various subjects.  Here a student is creating a graph using "MathView" then selected Colortiles. It's a great way to assess if students understand graphing.

Grade 1 Graphs as a Class

As part of stretching Digital Learning Day into a Digital Learning Week, Miss Drews first grade class did some digital graphing as a class.  Great class activity that got all the students involved, the students were engaged and learned at the same time!   She didn't have a whiteboard or any fancy tools, a one computer classroom with a projector.  Kids loved it.  Try it in your classroom!

• Interactive Graphs http://goo.gl/8ROyz 

Think Through Math Student Tutorial Video

Grades 3, 4 and students have access to an online Math Application called Think Through Math.  Here our very own 4th Grade student, Cole demonstrates what the program looks like for students.  Enjoy his tutorial.

StemScopes and Think Through Math

As 5th Grade students prepare for the upcoming STAAR Tests, they look to online resources that the district has provided.  Stemscopes and Think Through Math are two of the resources they went to the most. Students can work at their own pace and can even access their accounts from home.  Students were loving it so much they were aleady asking if they could use them in the summer months!

Tag Math Excels

In 4th Grade Tag Math, students use Microsoft Excel to determine the best value in pay by determining which pay scheme will net them $1000 first.

Math Skills: 

1. Create a table of values for a given pattern 
2. Describe, extend, and analyze patterns
3. Graph a given table of values 
4. Plot points on a coordinate grid 

 Technology Skills:  Use of Spreadsheet Application to...

1. Change heights and widths of rows and columns 
2. Create formulas 
3. Use the Fill function to extend tables 
4. Graph given sets of data displayed in tables 
5. Formatting cells to include commas
6. Navigate to Save on Network Folder

Preparing for STAAR goes Interactive

As classes prepare for the upcoming STAAR Tests, they get interactive with Promethean Boards and Voting Devices.  Here are just a few examples of a 5th Grade Science, 4th and 3rd Grade Math Review Flipcharts.  Using the voting devices is a great way for teachers to get instant feedback on what skills need further review.

Angles - What do we know?

Ms. Baker's 4th Grade class is going to be learning about Angles. The class worked in pairs to come up with what they already knew and then record their prior knowledge on the interactive whiteboard in the classroom. This page can then be saved and revisited as the class continues their learning. Great use of the Promethean Board Ms. Baker! What do you know about angles?

5th Grade Presents with Prezi

Mrs. Boehler's 5th Grade class has made Prezi Presentations on various topics that they then present in class. Check out a few examples below:

What is Matter:

What is matter? on Prezi

What's My Number:

Lizzy on Prezi

Amanda on Prezi

Turtle Pond

Ms. Carlson’s Second Grade class worked with Ms. Hintz our ITS in the computer lab to get turtles to the pond! This was a super fun way to explore math and social studies TEKS that align with the Second Grade Curriculum in mapping and plotting a course through measurement. Students navigated to our School Website and the “for Students” page where Ms Hintz hid a turtle. If you want to go directly to the pond yourself, go to: http://illuminations.nctm.org/ActivityDetail.aspx?ID=83. Once on the site, students came up with navigating directions to send their turtle to the pond. Those that dared tried to do it without the grid and added obstacles. Many want to challenge their parents to see if they can do it. Most think their parents will their need help! So parents, can you get the turtle in the pond?

Thank you to Sommer Elementary ITS, Jen Freeman, for sharing this activity!