Cells

What we've been doing:  We just wrapped up our cell unit, and it was one of my favorite topics to teach in science this year.  Confession: I never really enjoyed science class, but here I am trying to teach it.  I loved this unit because we did so many projects and interactive things with the materials.

The first day I had a powerpoint explaining the functions of the cell.  The next day, the boys used the materials given to them in a plastic bag to create a model of the cell membrane.

They turned the house into a metaphor for the cell.  The boys labeled the different parts.  The couch was the nucleus, aka the control center of the cell/house.  The giant fence around the house represented the cell wall.  The endoplasmic reticulum was the hose, since both are long and maze-like.  Centriole was represented by scissors and tape because it aids in cell reproduction, the dividing and adhering of cells.  It was neat to have Rosa and Pedro ask the boys what the signs meant and why they were in the specific area of the house.

The boys created 3D cell models for either a plant or animal cell.  I put a bunch of random things I had laying around the house into a bag that they used.  If I was allowed to give homework, I would have had them use materials from their own houses.  I saw some neat examples online that were food cells.  It would have been cool to use pizza or cake and label the parts.

We are finishing the year with a little ecology.  We went on two field trips to rivers and had fun comparing them, trying to figure out which river was healthier.

Art Week

What we've been creating: Last week we were able to pause History and spend some time studying different artists.  I love creating and making art, so weeks like these are such a special treat.

Tuesday we looked at the life and art of Javier Perez.  He is an Ecuadorian who takes every day objects and turns them into art.  He uses white paper and a pen.  I told the boys to make 5 of their own and post them on Kidblog.  Here are some of their examples.


Alligator/Dinosaur by Andrew


Percy Jackson-ish by Andrew


Monster by Joseph

Fire-Breathing Creature by Isaac

Target by Isaac

Wednesday and Thursday we looked at the life and art of Rosalie Gascoigne.  She is an artist from New Zealand.  She uses recycled materials and squares to create her art.  I found the idea from this blog post.  Rosalie uses old road signs, but the boys and I used magazines.  Each of the quadrants has a specific theme.

By Andrew

By Joseph 

By Isaac

Friday we did wax crayon art with a blow dryer.  The boys picked out their color scheme and needed to figure out how to use the blow dryer to manipulate and maneuver the wax.  They turned out really cool.  Isaac wants to hang his in his bedroom at home.  Andrew and Joseph thought they would look cool in the classroom next year.  I want to turn the hallway leading to the classroom into an art gallery.  I want to hang their work on the wall.

I'm trying to figure out what artists to study and what projects to create for next year.  Any ideas?

Con mucho amor.

National Poetry Month

What we've been doing: April was National Poetry Month, and I was excited to spend several weeks on poetry with the boys.  Here's what we've been doing, reading, and creating.

I brought in the poet-tree that I filled with origami poems that we looked at over the month.  The boys started off by making a class poem together using magnetic poetry.  Then we read this awesome article by Smoop about how to read poetry.  They ended the day by making their own magnetic poetryish poems using little slips of paper.  The boys struggled with only using the words given to them, but it was a great opportunity for them to be creative.

The second poetry day, we read Ars Poetica written by two different authors.  We compared the two poems, looking at their structure and their figurative language.  The focus of today was poetry about poetry.  We also read Poetry Handbook and looked at this amazing comic strip based on the poem.

The boys wrote poems about poetry using what we read as inspiration.  They were encouraged to use lots of figurative language.

I also used the New York Times Poetry Pairings one day in class.  The website even includes two worksheets to help the students compare the article and poem.  The boys struggled when answering the questions, but I think it was good for them to think deeper about what they read.  Next year I would love to have them pair a poem and an article themselves.

I was really excited to go on a walk around the neighborhood before they wrote odes to Santiago (the city we live in).  The boys were hot, and they did not want to go for a walk.  They convinced me they had enough ideas without leaving the classroom.  We watched a Youtube video describing how to write an ode.  When I found the video, I also discovered this awesome website called Power Poetry.  They have contests and scholarships and provide an opportunity for teens to publish their work online.

We watched two different people presenting poetry.  Both the people spoke really fast, so it was a little hard for the boys to understand some of the words, but I mentioned that next year I want them to present poetry like that.  I want to look more at spoken word next year.  Giving the boys a voice is so important.  I need to have them dig deeper to write poetry about things that really matter in life, more than Minecraft and video games.

Touchscreen - Marshall Davis Jines
A Love Poem for Lonely Prime Numbers - Harry Baker

Over the three weeks the boys enjoyed, listened to, read, and wrote poetry, I would have them pull a poem or two off the poet-tree.  They compared the poems, and they wrote on this Padlet what poems inspired them the most and why.

Here's the link to my kidblog page where the boys have been publishing their work.  I am already dreaming and thinking of poetry ideas for next year.  I need to track down Dead Poet's Society, and look at some contests the boys can enter.  I also didn't make a big deal about Poem in Your Pocket Day, which next year I want to make it something special.  The end of April next year I want to have a poetry party where the boys share their work aloud.

Any other ideas for me?  How did you celebrate National Poetry Month?

El pais de mi corazon

Where I've been: I got to spend 12 days in Costa Rica over Semana Santa, or spring break.  I left Wednesday, March 25th and got back to the DR on Monday, April 6th.  It was 12 days full of friends, laughter, yummy food, and rest that I so desperately needed.

I was rather nervous to leave the country.  I hadn't left since I got here in August.  That's 8 months, and the tourist stamp on my passport is only good for 2-3 months.  I spent a lot of time praying that God would help me get out of the DR safely.  I had a letter stating I am a missionary, I had a badge with my picture and name of New Hope, and I had my paperwork showing I was working on getting my visa.

Pedro dropped me off at the airport, and in I went.  I stared down the walkway and saw the first airport person who would look at my passport.  He was a probably in his 30s, and looked rather scary to me.  I walked up and handed him my passport and my customs form to leave.  My hands were shaking, but I tried to conceal my nerves.  What happened?  He told me I was beautiful and asked for my number.  I started chuckling on the inside and told him I didn't have one.

Next, a lady had to look at my papers and stamp my passport to let me leave the country.  I had prepared everything that I was going to say to her if she asked me.  First I was going to show her my badge, then my letter, then the visa paperwork if necessary.  I had practiced over and over again in my head.  I handed her my passport and my custom form with a big grin.  She looked at me, looked at the papers, stamped my passport, and said nothing.

I thought it was too easy.  I thought someone was going to chase me down.  But no.  GOD HAD ANSWERED MY PRAYERS.  How faithful He is.

The first few days I stayed in San Ramon.  I walked around town, had a movie night or two, laid in bed and read.  It felt so nice to be "home."  Waking up every morning to a hug and a kiss from my host mom was wonderful.  I had some coffee dates with friends where I would drink water, and I got my fill of different rice and beans than the ones I have been eating in the DR. :)

We went to Viviana's boyfriend's house on Saturday.  There's a pool and Viviana even made my favorite dessert, cheesecake de maracuya.  It was one of the best desserts I've ever had.  We watched the sunset over the city of San Jose.

Sunday after church I went to San Jose by myself on a bus.  I hung out with my friend Yasmin.  I went shopping for the first time in 8 months.  I got new undershirts and a new pair of jeans.  It felt kind of weird to spend money on clothes.  Yasmin and I made dinner and I spent the night at her house.  The next day we walked around the city more, and then I headed back to San Ramon.  I was pretty proud of myself for getting to the capital and back alone.

Monday was the start of Holy Week.  Easter is a huge deal in the Catholic church, and Baptist churches barely recognize the special day.  I got to see Catholic processions and parades with Jesus statues and chanting and singing.  It was very interesting and different to observe these traditions.  It seemed rather cult-ish to me, but it's how some people celebrate in CR.

I also got to eat and make some special foods that are normally only eaten on Holy Week.  One of the foods I made were empanadas de chiverre.  They were little empanadas made with a jelly/sweet filling.  So yummy.  I went over to Lucy's house and made them with her son and daughter.

We spent a day at la finca (the farm) of my host family.  Fabi, Krystell and I made these cookies de almidon.  They were SO yummy and fairly easy to make.  The evening after the day at la finca, Angelica and I got together and played cards.  She is one of my favorite people, and I always wish I have more time to hang out with her.  She beat me many times during our games of slap jack and war.

Gueru's sister lives in Orotina.  I had never traveled to that part of Costa Rica before.  It was kind of desert-ish.  Much warmer that freezing San Ramon.  We spent the day swimming at the pool and eating lots of yummy foods.  We camped and slept in tents at her sister's house.  I felt like such a part of the family.

The next day we went to Tamarindo, which is a beach in the north part of the country.  We camped again and spent all Saturday relaxing in the sand.  There was so much traffic going back to San Ramon on Saturday night.  Most of the country has Thursday, Friday, and Saturday off for Holy Week, so beaches are packed.

Sunday was my last full day in the country.  We went to church and had lunch together at the mall.  That afternoon I went with my host brother and his friends to see Fast and the Furious 7, and we ended the night by going to my favorite hill in San Ramon to look at the lights.

Until next time, Costa Rica.