Iron Bowl SCAMPER

I know its the week AFTER the Iron Bowl, but this is a great lesson to introduce our next problem solving technique which is called SCAMPER (look below for the definition).

You can use SCAMPER to use information both old and new to help you really examine your surroundings and come to a better solution to the problem you face. You will put each level of SCAMPER to work to help you along in the process.

S=Substitute - what things could I substitute into the situation to solve the problem?

C=Combine - could I combine anything in the situation to help solve the problem?

A=Adjust/Adapt - is there anything I could adjust/adapt in the situation to help solve the problem?

M=Modify - how could I modify something in the situation to help solve the problem?

P=Put to other uses - How could I use something in the situation in a unique way to help solve the problem?

E=Eliminate - What might I eliminate from the situation to help solve the problem?

R=Reverse/Rearrange - In what was might I reverse or rearrange what happens in the situation to help solve the problem?

We will use these questions to assist the universities with their problems.

* If you would like a copy of the Iron Bowl Scamper I can email it as a Word document.*

Thanksgiving Lesson 2009

So this is my last time meeting with my classes before Thanksgiving since we are out of school next week! YEPPIE! So, I decided to write a lesson plan centered around Thanksgiving and tried to incorporate on of our problem-solving themes : PERSPECTIVE.

In my opinion, it is a great lesson because it works for ALL ages. I changed the end products per the grade level, but the assignment was the same.

I did this lesson for myself (I will show my answers in a moment), and I thought that some of you might could use this tool to take inventory of your "thanks" this time of year.

Perspective: The way you view the people, places, things, or events in your life.

Activating Activity: Quickly, list the top 10 things you are thankful for...

ME: 1) my husband
2) God's grace
3) my children
4) my job
5) my home
6) my church family
7) forgiveness
8) stuff - car, clothes, gadgets
9) DVR
10) God's Word/Holy Spirit

Discussion: There is NO one on earth who lives a life without pain, sorrow, or some type of negative things in their lives. The above list is filled with things that it is easy to be thankful for. There are other things in our lives that we must deal with pain, sorrow, grief, personal growth, sickness, loneliness and many more! However, the way in which we deal with this problems (problem solving) and to what degree these things affect our lives, depends very much on our perspective of these things.

Activity: MARK OUT YOUR TOP TEN LIST. It is easy to be thankful for those things. Lets see how you do being thankful for things that are not so easy...List the top 5 negative things in YOUR life - right now.

ME: 1) Sin
2) messy house
3) busy schedule
4) paperwork
5) Cancer - all things cancer related

Challenge: We are going to practice changing our perspective. For each negative thing you listed above complete the following sentence...

I am thankful for (the negative thing),because (give a reason.)

ME:

1) I am thankful for SIN because it is a reminder of the fact that I MUST depend on God's grace to make it in life - and death:)

2) I am thankful for a MESSY HOUSE because it reminds me that I have three wonderful mess-makers who God has given me to care for!

3) I am thankful for a BUSY SCHEDULE because it reminds me that I have a life FULL of friends and family who love me and want to spend time with me!

4) I am thankful for PAPERWORK even though it is not by favorite part of my job, it reminds me that I do HAVE a job!

5) I am thankful for CANCER because it reminds me that life is short, and that we should enjoy and be thankful for EVERY moment - even the tough ones!

So here you have it! The Thanksgiving Lesson. Hope you like it!

Week Four - What's in a Problem

This week we are going to really focus on our problem solving skills.

Students will work in groups to compile solutions to various problems dealing with Japanese history and our story Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes .

Today's Activating Activity: Brain Teaser Worksheet (to get the creative juices flowing!)

The Problem Solving Process is very important. Once you get the process down, you can solve all types of situations and problems!

Take a look at this. Be sure to watch/listen for details that might seem irrelevant, but you never know what type of information might help you solve the problem.



Now, lets discuss the Creative Problem solving method we will use. Will go through this process using the Three Little Pigs' problem.

• Objective Finding - what do we want to accomplish? What would the results look like?
• Fact Finding - what do we know? List as many things as possible.
  
• Problem Finding - what are all the possible issues at hand? Which is the MOST important.
  
• Solution Finding - What are some possible solutions? Again, nothing too crazy!
  
• Acceptance Finding - What is the BEST solution and describe the results?
  

Hiaku WBES

Stephen W.
4th Grade
The Rain is pouring down hard
We can't go outside
I am really bored.

Jacob C.
3rd Grade
I like to measure
When will they come over?
I always like school.

Drake D.
3rd Grade
School is very fun!
I love it when it is fall.
It is raining cheese.

Joshua G.
3rd Grade
The sky is falling!
No, the leaves are falling down.
I love when its fall!

Tori P.
3rd Grade
What's up, Spring is here lets play
School's here lets work guys
So you like baseball?


Tristyn R.
3rd Grade
The flowers are blooming now
They are pretty big
This season is spring.

Aly B.
4th Grade
I am happy it is fall!
The leaves are falling!
Rake the leaves again!

Joel R.
3rd Grade
What time is it now?
I hope they come over soon!
I like Halloween!

Anna Cate M.
4th Grade
Springtime is coming.
All the flowers start to bloom.
Bees are buzzing too.

Mary Beth B.
4th Grade
Acorns are falling.
Leaves are blowing now
It gets colder at night now.

Pictures from "Sadako's" Peace Park

These are actual photos from the "Peace Park" mentioned in our book. I hope these give you some real images to have in your mind of what Sadako experienced on Peace Day (chapter 2). Pardon my excitement, I just think it is neat to have a real image in my mind of what Sadako experienced.

This is the statue of a young girl holding a "paper" crane. It is believed to be the image of
Sadako Sasaki.

I like this one. If you look on page17 in your book. You will see Sadako and Chizuko running in to the Peace Park. See the building and fountains?

You can read these lines on page 18 "After speeches by Buddhist priests and the mayor, hundreds of white doves were freed from their cages. They circled the twisted, scarred Atomic Dome." - This is the sight Sadako saw and she looked up at THIS building!

Haiku Poetry - WES

Take a look at these. I am so proud of them.
Kathleen E.
WES 3rd Grade
3rd Grade

The leaves are changing colors
Nature is gorgeous
Fall is coming near!
______________________
Keegan T.
WES 4th Grade

Hunting is awesome.
Where are the good deer?
I just got a brand new gun!
_____________________
Ashley R.
WES 4th Grade

I love to party
My frind is coming over
School is coming soon
_____________________

Hallie C.
WES 3rd Grade

Summer is here now
The birds are singing
I feel a chill, now its gone!
_____________________
Drew S.
WES 4th Grade

Flowers are pretty
I see birds and butterflies
I love spring a lot.

____________________
Chase M.
WES 4th Grade

The sun is shining
There is no snowing
There is no rain falling down.
____________________
Chris O.
WES 3rd Grade

Hello, its winter
My birthday is in winter
It is January now!
____________________
Justin M.
WES 3rd Grade

The snow is falling
You will sweat in the summer
Summer is very hot.

____________________
Baleigh J.
WES 3rd Grade

It is warm today,
Warm enough to say , oh hey!
I'm getting a drink.
____________________
Sierra M.
WES 3rd Grade

My birthday is near!
It might snow in March.
What time is it right now?
____________________
Breanna P.
WES 3rd Grade

It's not winter now,
drops are falling down,
Now that is all for right now.
____________________
Brock D.
WES 3rd Grade

September is my birthday.
September is here.
I am turning nine!

____________________
Peyton C.
WES 3rd Grade

Summer is almost near here
Football is starting
and I am going.
____________________
Emma Hicks
WES 4th Grade

I see leaves falling
I see beauty now again
I love fall a lot!
____________________
Caleb P.
WES 3rd Grade

Winter is close now
I prayed for my school
The rain is falling down hard.

Week Three

Activating Activity

How many book shelves do you see?
Can you recreate this illusion on your paper?

3rd-4th Grades
Read/Discuss Chapters 1-2 of "Sadako"
Begin Haiku Poetry

5th-6th Grades
Read/Discuss Chapters 1-3 of "Sadako"
Haiku Poetry Project
**Display or Poetry Booklet due next week**

7th-8th Grades
Read Discuss Chapters 1-3 of "Sadako"
Begin group project of writing play

I also used this video to preview and discuss the droping of the Atom Bomb on Hiroshima. This is actual footage taken from the air craft. This is "the bomb" that affects Sadako.

Week Two's Task

What a great week we had in class. Everyone seems very excited about learning about Japan. So, here is what I need you to do for next week.

3rd and 4th Grades:

Look under the "important links" to the left on this page. Choose "Kid Web Japan". When you get to that page, look to the left under the "play" section. Choose "Virtual Culture" and you may choose any one of these topics. Click on it, read what it tells you to read, play the game it provides or you, and then answer the following questions in your notebook. 1) What topic did you choose and what is it? 2) What did it ask you to do? 3) What did you learn from this?

5th and 6th Grades:

You have two options this week.
Option One: Choose one of your interesting questions about Japan and search out the answer. Write a summary of your findings for next week.

Option Two: You may also choose one of the "Virtual Culture" links from the Kids Web Japan site. Follow the instructions for the 3rd and 4th Grades and write your conclusions in your notebook

7th and 8th Grades:

Remember that we are trying to be better problem solvers! You are to come up with a new daily school schedule that will help correct some of the problems we discussed in class while maintaining academic excellence for schools.

Email me with questions or concerns cottinghama@bibbed.org

Week Two - Whats wrong with our schools???

Think for a moment about your school day. Write down your schedule including subjects, teachers, and times (as best you can.)

Now we are going to do an activity called THINK, PAIR, SHARE. Follow my instructions...

1) Think about your school day. List the top FIVE problems this schedule causes in your life.

2) Pair up with someone who's birthday is two months before or after you (I will help those who cannot find a partner!)

3) Share the problems you created with your partner. Now, the two of you compile a list of the top three problems with your school day. We will use these in a moment.

Now lets look at some basic facts about school in Japan...

Japanese School

4) Write down some things you like about school in Japan.

And Lets watch this video...





THINK: If our class found so many problems so quickly, and there are SO many educators in the United States, WHY do you think our schools are set up the way they are? Is is just to TORMENT teachers and students???

Here is a video of some kids in Japan at school.



Japanese High School:



Now, own-your-own come up with a new schedule that you think would work to meet the needs of parents, teachers, and students - while maintaining academic standards.

First Week's Task

7th and 8th Graders: You should be posting a comment to the blog stating your "best" problem you formulated in class.

3rd and 4th: Take a look at the three maps on the post "Why Japan?" and tell me something you learned from each map.

**Everyone** Try a get a notebook before next week. It does not matter what size, but it needs to be for Gifted Class only. Also, don't forget to bring something to write with to class!

Have a Great Week
Mrs. Cottingham

Week One - Why Japan?

You may wonder, "Why did Mrs. Cottingham choose Japan for us to study?"

There are several reasons. First, I find it interesting! Also, Japan is a good case study of a society that is (1) different from ours (2) similar to ours (3) has changed drastically over the past decades...and many more! Also, when researching for this course, I found a plethora of resources available for our use.

You may also wonder, "What exactly about Japan are we going to study?"

For the first few weeks, we are going to be on a fact finding mission. Searching for, learning about, and remembering "stuff" about Japan. Then, we will use some of the knowledge we acquire to guide us through our learning journey of Japanese history, modern culture, changes, and people.

I have planned some really cool stuff for us! I am even working on a way for us to take a virtual field trip and actually see and talk to REAL students in Japan!

Let's get started!

First, I want you to write down everything you already know about Japan.
Then, write down everything you would like to learn about it.

We will come back to this later...

Take a look at this map. I want you to write down the FIRST thing that you notice about Japan.

Map One

Okay, take a closer look. Can you think of two problems that Japan or the Japanese might have based on what you see here? Write those down as well.

In Alabama, in average rain fall per year is

Based on what you already know, make a conclusion from this map and write it down.

Map Two

Now look at this map:

Map Three

Now we are going to use the information you wrote down and complete a problem solving task.

Weekly Gifted Schedule

Here is my tentative schedule. I suspect it will change once I get in the classes...

Monday:
Centreville Middle School
8:00 - 10:00 5th Grade
10:00 - 12:00 6th Grade

Randolph Elementary School
12:30 - 2:30 ALL Students

Tuesday:
Centreville Middle School
8:00 - 10:00 7th Grade
10:00 - 12:00 8th Grade

Brent Elementary School
12:30 - 2:30 3rd and 4th

Wednesday:
West Blocton Middle School
8:00 - 10:00 5th Grade
10:00 0 12:00 6th Grade

West Blocton Elementary School
12:30 - 2:30 3rd and 4th

Thursday:
West Blocton Middle School
8:00 - 10:00 8th Grade
10:00 - 12:00 7th Grade

Woodstock Elementary School
12:30 - 2:30 3rd and 4th

Friday:
Office
Referrals, testing, teacher consultation, GEP or parent meetings, lesson planning,phone calls, records, inservice attendance or planning.

Welcome!

I am so excited about this school year. As many of you know, our Unit of Study for this semester is Japan. I have lots of great lessons in store for you!

I hope that you will become very familiar with this website. I will store all of the images, maps, links, and assignments that we cover in class right here. Please take some time to familrize yourself with how the page works.

Once I began posting very often, you will notice that the new posts are always at the top. If you need information from an older post, scroll down. If you do not see it on this page, check out the "Old Posts" list on the right-hand side of the screen. Please feel free to email me anytime.

I hope as the semester goes on that several students will choose to create their own blogs as well. I will help you set it up and make it secure. This will be a great way for all of the students to share ideas and stay connected; even across the county!

Classes will begin next week, September 8-11th. I will post my weekly schedule. For 5th and 6th Graders at CMS due to the Labor Day holiday, I will not see you until the next week.

I cannot wait to see you!

~Mrs. Cottingham~