Interest Inventory (Grades 3-6)
Interest Inventory (Grades 7-8)

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.