First Expert Projects

Laura Dean
Mar 5, 2017
3 min read

Good Afternoon CFI Families!

This past week was a busy one with our speaker on Monday, field trip on Tuesday and wrapping up the week learning about the American Revolution from the fourth grade class gathering. Here is the recap of our week!

On Monday we had Mr. Ed Emmer from the science instruction department at the district come and provide a demonstration to both first grade classes. He showed us how we see the moon seem to change based on how much light from the sun illuminates it as it revolves around us. Here we are walking around the moon and watching the amount lit up change.

He also fielded many of our questions about the moon. It was quite helpful in understanding this complicated concept.

On Tuesday, many of you were wonderful to accompany us to the Museum. Though it was a long day, the kids seemed to enjoy the planetarium show, exploring the museum, and viewing the observatory. We have since started exploring more about the sun and light in general. Here are a few pictures I took of my group and Mrs. Shealy’s exploring. Please if any chaperones took pictures send them my way!

In math we have been learning to read an analog clock. We made our own clocks to help us understand each part and how to read it together. We have since used them to display different times and practice reading them. We will continue this study this week and the clocks will make their way home. This topic has expanded into our explorations time as many kids have started making watches.

We have spent part of the week figuring out what our first expert project topics should be. We brainstormed inventions, both past and present, and expanded our list after exploring the museum. We voted on clocks as our class expert project and will dive in with this this week. We brainstormed what we would need to share about each invention to help our audience gain a better understanding. These have formed our guidelines for the project. This week we will go through this process as a class with clocks as each child starts their own project at home.

Here are the guidelines for the project which is due March 16th.

Answer the following questions to be presented on a posterboard or in book format.

What is the invention?

Who invented it?

When was it invented?

Why was it invented? Here you can discuss if it was an accidental creation or discovery

How has the invention changed since it was first invented?

How does it work? (If the invention is highly technical just provide the basics)

What are three facts about it?

Provide some artistic representation made by the child- either an illustration, model or diagram

What you are still wondering?

If you could come up with any invention, what would you create? (With an accompanying illustration)

These projects can be displayed on any kind of poster board or in book format but need to be in the child’s handwriting. Please remember this is their project and, as you will see with our class project, it will likely look messy or sloppy to our adult eyes. To them, it is their creation which we will be excited to celebrate.

The projects are due on March 16th and will be on display that night at curriculum night. We will share them with the class the next week staggered across days and times.

Here is the list of what each child picked. If you have any questions about their choices or need to change for any reason please let me know.

Invention of the...

Aidan- Car

Alyssa- Roller skates

Bella- (Will pick on Monday)

Charlie- Tablet (Will specify more on Monday)

Darryl- Bus

Derrick- Violin

Emily- Television

Ethan- Rocket

Grace- Refrigerator

Janina- High Heels