Destiny MyQuest

2nd graders have been learning how to use technology as a means to interact with each other about what they are reading. The program is called MyQuest and is located on the Destiny Media Catalog. MyQuest provides a fun, safe venue for young readers to communicate with each other in the following ways: create a virtual bookshelf; write book reviews; put books on hold; and make recommendations to friends. Students build their virtual book shelves as a way to keep track of their growth as readers. They connect with friends by recommending books and also by commenting on what their friends are reading.

As a community of readers it is important for students to interact with one another to grow and learn. They have many opportunities to interact face to face at school. MyQuest provides one more avenue for social interaction that draws upon critical 21st century learning skills. Students may access their account from home, school, or anywhere they have internet access.

Wax Museum

Third graders have been busy this week preparing for their Wax Museum projects. In this exciting project students select a "change-maker" in our world (past or present) and research this person in order to learn about his/her life and act as that person at the Wax Museum.
Students visited the Media Center to learn about biographies and what characteristics make a book a biography. Each group received a different biography to explore and had to write down what they noticed. Below are samples from 2 group's notes:

As each group shared their observations, we noticed that biographies have many things in common:

• table of contents
• timeline
• real photographs or drawings
• glossary
• author's note
• index
• chapters or sections organized chronologically

We also brainstormed all the words that popped in our heads when we heard the word "biography." You can see the common suggested words in our Wordle below. We thought it was really cool that the words "Biography, Person, Change-Maker, and Learning" showed up the most often :) Those words must be pretty important to our research!



(mouse over the Wordle to enlarge it)

On day two we learned about 3 quality resources available in the Online Fun! section of the Media Center website: NC WiseOwl; PebbleGo; and Webpath Express. These websites have kid-friendly and reliable information on a variety of levels. We also learned that research might be frustrating at times because we have to keep "searching" to find the answers we need. We will probably have to use multiple websites and books before our quest is complete!

Here are a few pictures from Ms. Whaley's class visit to the Media Center today:

We learned the Dewey number for biographies is 921

Listening to an article on the PebbleGo database

Exploring NCWiseOwl

We learned that it will be necessary to use a variety of resources

Working hard on Part 1 of our research

Excited about my choice!

Black History Month Living Museum

Club Boulevard culminated our Black History Month studies last week with a luncheon and evening showcase. At the luncheon, a group of young actors participated in our Living Museum. These students each researched a notable African American and acted as that person to share important facts about his/her life. We were visited by Octavia Butler, Dr. John R. Cooper, Ruby Bridges, Garrett Morgan, and Ashley Bryan...just to name a few! I am so proud of our Kindergarten-5th graders who made history come to life for students, teachers, and families!

Sound Off!

Mrs. Murray's 2nd graders learned how to use Glogster to create online posters about their Sound unit. Partners had to collaborate to create a layout, type, and organize their information. Check back later for an updated post with our finished Glogs!