Mr. Garces Mr. Christensen Mrs. Morell Mrs. Giunta Mrs. Bartucci
AstroCamp, Idyllwild, CA Griffith Observatory, Hollywood Hills, CA Santa Anita Racetrack, Arcadia, CA California Science Center, Los Angeles, CA
Please take a moment to view our full slide show of our INCREDIBLE 4 day trip, all around southern California!
The Nate Mack StarLab
Once again, we are able to have the Nate Mack StarLab experience! This portable planetarium, which has a dome projector, is on loan to us from the GATE Office each year!
Our 5th grade GATE'rs had the opportunity to explore our vast, immense universe and to study the stars! They became knowledgeable in all things astronomy and became wonderfully informative and dramatic tour guides for all the classes here at Nate Mack, these past few weeks!
To see all the scenes behind the StarLab, please check out our slide show below:
Sheep Brain Dissection
Our GATE'rs participated in discourse, brain research, and activities like brain food tastings and presentations that promoted problem solving and higher level thinking skills. By the conclusion of our brain unit, our students were able to identify and describe each main part of the brain and their function. This is our culminating activity, the dissection of the sheep brain using actual dissection tools like a scalpel, teasing needles, and scissors, and labeling of the main parts like cerebellum, cerebrum, brain stem, medulla, hypothalamus, and thalamus.
Our GATErs were instructed on safe dissection practices and had their choice of wearing the appropriate gear: safety goggles, gloves, and lab aprons.
Before the main dissections began, each pair of "neurosurgeons" had to remove the dura mater from their brain specimens. The dura mater is the tough connective tissue layer that serves as the outer layer of the meninges. They also had an opportunity to locate and label other parts like the gyri, optic nerve, olfactory bulb and the corpus callosum.
Students then had a choice of two incisions, a dorsal or a lateral incision and to prepare a slide. Students were able to use the microscope for further inspection.
The brain and its functions/responsibilities are very intriguing to us and to others, as we had guest visitors join us to observe during our dissection sessions.
Thank you for coming! Mrs. Spears Mrs. Okui Mrs. Leah Ms. Arias Mrs. Bartoe
Check out the slide show below of our neurosurgeons!
Daily Brain Warm-ups
To get their dendrites fired up (and to create more synapses) GATE'rs work daily on brain games for the first few minutes of class.
From logical to creative, they complete a variety of brain teasers to strengthen both the left and right hemispheres. Students love the activities that utilize their "strong" side but they have learned to challenge themselves for their "weaker" side.
Our new favorite is "Twangled", a twist on "Twister"!
While researching about good/bad brain food, and all the health benefits, students were able to sample: green tea (sweetened with clover honey) blueberry tea (sweetened with clover honey) sunflower seeds pumpkin seeds
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Brain Research Presentations
The AlliGATERs and BRAINiacs selected partners and various brain research facts to present in a variety of learning styles, (Multiple Intelligences) like: verbal/linguistic (lesson plans with student activities like quizzes, game shows), bodily kinesthetic (plays, puppet skits, news broadcasts), musical, and visual/spatial (Powtoons, Google slides, posters, concept maps). The presentations were entertaining, while showcasing our students' strengths and imparting knowledge for us! The audience (their peers) were able to critique the performances!
Enjoy the slide show below:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Review Journal and Atomic Testing Museum Tours-- One Fabulous Field Trip!
Our Mountain Lion Monthly News Staff represented Nate Mack well on this trip!
took GREAT notes
asked insightful questions
displayed leadership skills
acted professionally with respect and courtesy to our tour guides
learned all about their newspaper positions and about a specific, controversial time in Nevada's history
I am so, so, so proud of them! They were spot on! Well done, News Staff!
A BIG THANK YOU to all our super chaperones who accompanied us! It was great to see your children in action and perhaps you picked up a tidbit or two, yourselves, as well!
Mrs. Giunta Mrs. Burrows Mrs. Morell Mr. Garces Mr. Bartucci Mr. Levrant Mrs. Levrant Mrs. Allen Mrs. Spears
Review Journal Tour Did you know...
that all the paper used at the RJ is recycled?
one roll of recycled newsprint is 9.1 miles long and that the RJ uses 40 rolls a month?
that a trending board keeps the digital media department informed of what the public is viewing/reading in live time on all social media outlets?
The National Atomic Testing Museum Tour Did you know....
the early years of atomic testing were atmospheric detonations conducted primarily in the western Pacific Ocean and Nevada?
1963 is the year when the Limited Test Ban Treaty was signed which forced all tests underground?
the human history of the Nevada Test Site tells the story of the people who lived on the land which is now known as The Nevada Test Site?
We were able to visit the Ground Zero Theater which is a simulation of an above-ground test and had a reflection of the history of the atomic testing in Nevada.
Check out our field trip slide show below: (photos courtesy of our Photo Chiefs: Victoria and David L.)
Our Mountain Lion Monthly News Staff Hard at Work!
Our news staff manages all aspects of our school newspaper, Mountain Lion Monthly. Students first completed an application, listing their experiences and job interests, were then awarded their positions and listed on the staff chart.
From there, they were trained to become reporters, editors, sales, and advertising staff. Editors manage the assignment board, help reporters with article ideas, and of course, edit!
The City Editor and Assistant City Editor also hold staff meetings and then the rest of the editorial staff holds department meetings. Lots of leadership skills happening here!
Check out our slide show below!
LAST CALL for our M.L.M. Logo Contest!
We need a logo (graphic) that represents our school newspaper because we do not have one! So...turn on your creative juices, develop a logo, and SUBMIT ASAP!
The WINNING logo design will be featured in all future newspapers and on all official paperwork!
We have four entries so far...we are voting NEXT week!!
GOOD LUCK!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ December AstroCamp Deposits are now DUE!
Please send in your $50 deposit to Mrs. Lynn in the Front Office to secure your child's spot for our FABULOUS trip in May!
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The Mountain Lion Monthly News Staff!
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WELCOME BACK, 5th Grade GATE'rs!
I am so excited to get to know you even better this year and to
DISCOVER as we get prepared for middle school!
I look forward to working with you and your brain again!
Here's to your LAST GR8 G8 year! :-0
Love, Mrs. Bichsel ~~~~~~~~~~~~
5th Grade GATE
"Discovery"
August-September
Unit: "What Makes Me Unique"
Focus Questions:
How does using a specific thought process or way of thinking order our thinking?
How do learning styles affect our interdependence with the way we live and interact with others? How can we balance strategies for learning and remembering to these preferences so that they will work interdependently?
Key Concepts with Left/Right Brain Dominance Science Inquiry: illustration, graphs and charts, investigate behavior Megacognition: explore the thinking cycle