Mrs. Travis’ Classroom Blog

On October 6th the class will be going on a field trip to the Sultana Schooner.  The schooner Sultana is the ultimate classroom for learning about the history and environment of the Chesapeake Bay.  The Sultana is an almost exact replica of a British schooner that patrolled the North American coast just prior to the American Revolution.  On board, students travel back in time to the “Age of Sail” and participate in hands-on activities that are interactive, informative and fun.

The Schooner Sultana is a replica of a Boston-built merchant vessel that served for four years as the smallest schooner ever in the British Royal Navy.  Using the British Admiralty’s documentation of the original Sultana, she has been recreated with outstanding detail and offers all who sail aboard her a terrific glimpse of 18th century seafaring life.  Launched in 2001, and based in the historic port of Chestertown, Maryland, Sultana now sails as the “Schoolship of the Chesapeake,” providing unique educational programs for more than 5,000 students each year.

In Math we have started a new online program called First in Math.  Our school has chosen this outstanding educational website to help your child master fundamental and advanced mathematics skills.  First in Math activities employ Deep Practice techniques to rapidly increase computation, problem solving, critical thinking and essential math basics. Skills that may take months of regular practice can be mastered in a much shorter time using Deep Practice techniques and the immediate feedback online learning can provide.

Although content is presented in a “game” format, the skills developed are key to success in higher mathematics. Content ranges from addition to complex algebra.  Children using FIM have shown dramatic increases in math scores—across the board—from the top students to the most math-challenged learners. 

Your child has been given a First In Math  User ID and Password.  If you choose to access the site at home, your child will need a computer with internet access and Flash Player software. (free download)

We ask you to encourage your child to play a few minutes each day to greatly increase their math skills, as well as their overall academic confidence and performance. 

The class went on a field trip to Blackwater Wildlife Refuge to learn about food chains and webs in the real world.  Students took a tour of the Refuge, learned about the animals on the Refuge in the Visitors Center, explored the marsh for animals and plants in a wetland food chain, played a food chain game, and hiked a trail.

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During Math Enrichment the class designed a survey and created a google form called “What is Your Favorite?” for students to respond to.  You can see their results here: Results.  Afterwards students used the data to create frequency tables, bar graphs, and line plots.  The class also interpreted the data and determined mode, median, mean, outliers, clumps, and holes.  The kids did a great job!

In Reading class students chose a chapter book and wrote a book report.  They created cereal boxes about their book.  On their cereal boxes is the title and author of the book, a scene supporting the main idea of the book, a summary, a list of the main characters with a character trait, and a description of the setting.  They did a great job!  Check out their work below:

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Today in class we learned about floods, hurricanes, and global warming and how they affect living organisms in an environment.  Students created a demonstration to show how flooding would impact the environment in which plants and animals live.  Check out the slide show below to see them at work.

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