Team # 8
June Weissman Barchenko
jbarchenko@wyckoffschools.org
Fifth grade WEL students continue their thrilling excursion on the Saturday Subway. Their intense study of language continues as they present nursery rhymes in languages they have developed in small collaborative groups.
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JUST TAKE A LOOK AT OUR JABBERWOCKY CREATURES
Another study, of megastructures and archology, follows team efforts to build free-standing towers using twenty drinking straws and an arm's length of masking tape. Considerations include the social, ecological, and psychological ramifications of life in mile-high cities. We focus our attention on Arcosanti in an Arizona desert, designed by the eminent architect, Paolo Soleri. The special challenges presented in building such soaring structures are analyzed. This brings us to a contemplation of The Freedom Towers.
WEL CITY
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Students create skits considering life 200 years into the future. A rubric guides their efforts.
LIFE IN THE FUTURE
SKITS
2005
2006
2007
Advertising campaigns try to pitch and sell new products that students have designed to improve daily life.
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Tall tales make the ride all the more exciting.
The WEL.com and mindbender books provide further academic stimulation and growth.
Much of fifth grade WEL revolves around independent research of self-selected topics. Students maintain portfolios, collecting information about timely topics which arouse their passion, in an attempt to select personally meaningful areas of interest. They must think deeply about topics even before they formally apply for one through their independent research proposals.
Students learn techniques of effective active research in a real world environment as they explore many avenues of investigation. Their discoveries are creatively presented on Museum Night, which celebrates determination, persistence, and scholarly endeavor.
Our district-wide Museum Night was held on June 10, 2008, from 6 to 9 pm, in Lincoln School's new Multi-purpose room.
Thought-provoking topics included the use of steroids in sports, sports-induced knee injuries, skateboarding, ballet, the science of roller coasters, forces of motion, wind power, nuclear power, recycling, going green, climatic changes, global warming, pollution's effects on our future, lung cancer, retinoblastoma, the ecological importance of frogs, the allure of Nazi propaganda, the Battle of the Bulge, the Battle of Iwo Jima, dyslexia, autism, guide dogs, police dogs, Broadway, the criminal justice system, women in government, female inventors, bread's contribution to civilization, and future missions to Mars and the moon. Students demonstrated the definition of good work postulated by Howard Gardner, Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, and William Damon: work that is excellent, ethical and socially responsible.
Museum Night 2002 Museum Night 2003 Museum Night 2004 Overview
Fifth Grade Links
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