Students from several classes at Jefferson Elementary gave presentations to the board of education this week, when their school hosted the board’s November luncheon meeting.
Sixth graders explained the Morning Meeting at their school, a structured time that sets the tone for the day and includes any announcements. It is part of the Capturing Kids’ Hearts program used at all Great Bend USD 428 schools. Board members were invited to share anything they were thankful for that day.
Fourth graders demonstrated what they are learning in the Character Connect social and emotional learning program. This month, students are focusing on the character trait “gratitude.” The students created an activity that required adult participation; they came prepared with the names of board members and administrators written on sticks so they could randomly call on people to share three things for which they are grateful. In another activity, board members were shown a photo of children pulling sleds up a snowy hill and asked how it made them feel thankful – and what they would add to the photo to make it better. (One board member was thankful for the mountains in the background, and would improve the photo by adding a moose.)
Principal Adam Niedens said the students worked hard to prepare the activity for the board members.
Students from two grades showed off the new Twig Science curriculum that the school board approved earlier this year.
When Twig was adopted for grades K-8, Assistant Superintendent John Popp explained that teachers from every grade and every school tried out the materials for one semester before recommending the new curriculum.
“We wanted kids to DO science rather than read about science,” Popp said in March.
The new science curriculum is a hit, students said Wednesday.
Second graders showed what they are learning about construction materials. Soon they will be building a tower but first they are testing materials such as paper, popsicle sticks and uncooked pasta, as well as tape, glue and rubber bands, for strength, flexibility and other characteristics.
Fifth graders learned about chemical reactions when they made banana bread. They listed their ingredients and described the properties of each (bananas as yellow and mushy, flour is powdery), then observed how the ingredients changed after they were combined and baked. They noted that the ingredients weighed 96 grams before they were cooked and 91 grams after being in the microwave for one minute.
“Did you know, when a chemical reaction takes place, mass usually will be less?” a fifth-grader asked board members.
Student Council or “STUCO” members talked about how they mentor younger students by reading to them or by reviewing letters of the alphabet with some of the youngest children. They are also the morning greeters at the school.
Niedens went on to describe school improvement efforts and upcoming events. Jefferson Elementary students are looking forward to a spelling bee and to hosting a scholar’s bowl.
Instructional Coach Cindy Beck explained that Jefferson and other schools are getting ready for Proficiency Screeners, a new kind of test that replaces the practice tests for State Assessments. As students become familiar with these tests that review how much they retain of what they’ve been taught, the State Assessments won’t seem so intimidating. The screeners will also show teachers specific areas where students need concepts taught with a different approach.
