S.T.E.M. Newsletter
Three Rivers Park District
Zanewood scholars enjoyed working with many of our Community Partners this trimester! Three Rivers visited each classroom to share a science lesson in our outdoor classroom. Pre-K scholars enjoyed a puppet show about animals and their habitats. Our Kindergarten scholars investigated insects and our First graders explored the outdoors using their senses. Second graders learned more about seeds and seed dispersal, while our Third grade scholars learned how to handle live crayfish. Fourth grade scholars learned how to use a compass and worked on their mapping skills. In Fifth grade, scholars learned more about the Water Cycle.
Boston Scientific.
Boston Scientific sponsored our Fall Engineering Night on September 28th. We had so much fun seeing all the families engage in engineering and science activities with scholars. Scholars enjoyed using a human body model and removing kidney stones, exploring forces with fizz rockets, and coding various robots. Zanewood is so grateful for createMPLS, Code Savvy, and the Park Center Robotics Team for their help in making this a fun and educational event for scholars and families. You can read more about the event here.
createMPLS
createMPLS worked with scholars in the Engineering Lab to deliver 12 engineering lessons this trimester to the following classrooms: Mr. Christenson's class, Ms. Traynor's class, Ms. Baumann's class, Ms. Thompson's class, Ms. Krystyniak's class, Ms. McCarthy's class, and to our Pre-K scholars in both sessions. Each classroom at Zanewood will visit the Engineering Lab with createMPLS and Ms. Bennett, the TAG teacher, for one trimester. Scholars work with different LEGO kits to explore concepts such as gravity, forces, and speed.
Here at Zanewood, we integrate the ideas of Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math into our lessons everywhere. Here are some words from our Specialists about their lessons this trimester.
Ms. Radaj in the Media Center has loved working on ZWTV with our fifth grade scholars! Through working on ZWTV, students practice their public speaking skills, use audio and visual equipment in our TV studio, and meet our requirements for Media Arts Standards in Minnesota. In December, all Zanewood Scholars will practice coding using a variety of online and physical tools
Zanewood scholars have learned many new things in music this year! Our youngest scholars have focused on steady beat and singing in tune. We use different instruments and have also used boomwhackers, beanbags and scarves. Our older scholars have worked on playing accompaniments with songs and learning about music from other cultures during Hispanic Heritage Month and Native American Heritage Month. Our second grade class visited Orchestra Hall the last week of November to see some professional musicians. We are excited to continue making beautiful music this year!
With Mr. Hill in Art, scholars have been studying indigenous artists and art styles for Native American Heritage Month. Scholars have learned about Indigenous artists James Autio and Gordon Coons. They have studied Ojibwe clan animals and learned about the importance of eagles to Minnesota's Native Nations.
Mr. Lane has been working with scholars on practicing fitness through games. Many of the games he teaches practice locomotor skills and reflexes, such as throwing in balls in the creative game "Oscar the Grouch's Trash Can!" and basketball. Keep your students active this winter by playing jump rope, making obstacle courses, and getting outside to sled and skate!
Winter Engineering Night
Save the date for our next Engineering Night on Tuesday January 30th from 5-6:30 pm!
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Dismissal
Families, please be courteous at the Parent Pick-up Area and follow all traffic laws. There is a no turn left sign on school days. This ensures the safety of all staff and students. Thank you.
