PROGRAM CHALLENGE NEWSAUGUST 2019

WHAT'S YOUR WORD?

LOOK WHAT'S NEW AT PC!The students, parents and teachers atProgram Challenge worked last school yearto develop a new mission and vision for thecenter. The older students worked to developthe mission and vision and all students,parents, and teachers voted to select the bestone for the center. We are proud of our hardwork.

Fifth grade students were challenged toselect one word that described them. Students then worked to find a positivequote to help motivate them and others. Finally, the students selected a goal thatthey would like to achieve this school year. All fifth grade words are displayedthroughout the building. FIRST GRADE

First graders were introduced to Forensics.  Students usedtheir investigative skills to begin their unit “Teddy BearForensics”  First grade detectives used evidence, problemsolving skills and critical thinking skills to learn how to usefootprints to help solve mysteries. First graders were introduced to our Lego unit.  Theydesigned a 3-D working Lego maze, completed Lego STEMchallenges, and will soon begin writing a narrative storythat will be turned into a stop motion animation movie.

THIRD GRADE

SECOND GRADE

Third graders were introduced to Statistics andProbability.  Students are using Standards forMathematical practice to work through differentactivities using probability.  Each week students arepresented with a game and they must useprobability to determine if the game is fair or not. Third graders were introduced to BreakoutEDUwhich is like the ever popular Escape Rooms but foran academic setting.  They are using the 21stCentury Skills of critical thinking, collaboration,creativity, and communication to solve BreakoutEDUpuzzles.  They will even incorporate the third gradestandards into the writing of their own BreakoutEDUchallenge. Third grade students are also exploring systems asparts working together. They know that anatomy isthe science of the systems of the body. Students arereading nonfiction text to gather information, andthey are creating models of systems of the humanbody.

Second graders are diving into KitchenChemistry where they are learning aboutmatter.  Students are participating in variousexperiments and applying Science andEngineering concepts to their learning.Students are learning new vocabularyconcepts while using primary resources aboutfamous scientists and the tools used forscience purposes.  Students will fine tune theircreativity in the Makerspace as new creationsare developed.

FOURTH & FIFTH GRADE

Fourth and fifth graders are participating inOdyssey of the Mind.  They will developteam-building skills by working in groups toexamine problems and identify a real worldchallenge without limiting the possiblesolutions and their potential success. Students’ creative-thinking process isnurtured and developed as a problem-solvingtool in this class. Fourth and fifth graders will participate in

court trials to learn about courtroom rolesand procedures.  Students will also learnwhat it takes to live independently. Students will become young adults inwhich they will have to make their own lifedecisions, pay bills, hold down a job andsave money.

Who knew soft skills were so important? Students were introduced to the Great GriffinShake unit.  In this unit, they will practice theart of handshakes, first impressions, interviewskills, debates, job applications and more asthey prepare for the Great Griffin Shakecompetition that will take place in December.

The City Shapers are focusing on real-worldproblems around our center that could besolved with the engineering design process.They are learning to work together on teams.Teamwork is crucial when building andprogramming robots. Together, we arepracticing core values and hoping to makeour world a better place.