Franklin Discovery Engage

Do you know how to tell when we're getting toward the end of the year?  The teachers start talking about Summer (June) Term.  We're there, now!  That said, we still have two terms before we get there!  This term lasts until Spring Break, going from ice to warming.  This term, Franklin Discovery has several social studies classes that are sure to excite our students! In 1st and 2nd grades, we have two classes available for students: Famous Americans and Voting in America.  In Famous Americans, we're studying several ... well, famous Americans, looking at how they became famous and how our students can follow their examples.  In Voting in America, we're looking at why it's important to vote in our country, and why it's also important to allow for people not to vote in our country. In 3rd and 4th grades, we're looking at the Civil War in one set of classes, and looking at the branches of the American government in another.  In Civil War, we'll look at w

STEM Rec Challenges February 26 - March 2, 2018 Science Microbes. We are surrounded by microscopic life. It lives on us, it lives in us, and we couldn't live without it. This week we are using microscopes to look at some different types of microscopic life called amoeba that can be found in streams or ponds. Literacy Verb Dance Party . This week we are going to learn about different verbs and play a version of "charades"! Then we will have a dance party :) Social Studies World War II Escape  Room. We will be discovering the facts of what was happening in Europe during World War II. Meanwhile we will also be racing the clock as we try to solve puzzles and escape.   Technology Snap Circuits. Students will continue working through the 300+ challenges at our snap circuit station. And, thanks to a generous donation from a Franklin Discovery Family, we have been able to acquire several add-on kits! Students can earn the privilege of using the the add-on k

It finally looks and feels like winter in Utah! Along with the new snow, comes a new block full of new literacy skills for the foxes to explore. Continuing with the last block's trend, we will be doing writing in the literacy classes. This block we will focus on opinion-based writing, with each grade group focusing on a specific type of opinion writing. In addition growing our writing skills, we will be working on building writing communities. These communities, which are built by the students for the students, will provide an environment for everyone to learn, grow, and take risks as writers. This part of the classes continues from last block where we focused on establishing rules and routines for Writer's Workshop. 1/2 Opinion Writing 1 The Tiny Writers will be tackling basic opinion writing skills in this class. Students will be able to learn the basics of expressing their opinion in writing, including introducing their opinion in a creative way, supporting their opinion

STEM Rec Challenges February 12 - 16, 2018 Science Hot Air . For the culmination of our unit on matter and molecules students will use what they've learned about kinetic energy, molecules, temperature, and thermal expansion to build and launch hot air balloons. We're hoping for some good cold weather to help them fly! Literacy Chinese New Year. Have you heard of the Legend of the Chinese New Year? Do you know what your Chinese animal is? Come find out in literacy this week! We will act out the Chinese legend and find out what it means to have a "red envelope"! Music Bringing people together through music . Students will be spending time being introduced to the new apps on the Kindles which explore the world of music and sounds. Engineering Build a Ball Launcher for a Chance to Win $1,000.   In this fun engineering challenge students will be using limited materials to build a simple ball launcher.  Who knows, they might find themselves at the t

Attention Franklin Discovery Academy Families and Friends! On Friday, March 30, 2018 Franklin Discovery Academy will hold its annual Science and STEM Fair.  The fair will take place in the gym from 1:30 PM - 3:30 PM.  We are looking for anyone interested in volunteering to help with the event.  We need judges to evaluate projects as well as anyone interested in helping with set-up and take-down. Below you will find a link for a Sign-Up Genius to indicate your interest in helping.   http://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080c4aafa72babfd0-science If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact Ms. Gallup - janette.gallup@franklindiscovery.org 2017 Science Fair

10 Awesome Ways to Volunteer in STEMRec With the school year more than half over, a lot of families are asking how they can get their volunteer hours done in time. Never fear, STEMRec has got you covered; read on to find 10 awesome ways you can volunteer in STEMRec! Contact Cindy Trueblood at cindy.trueblood@franklindiscovery.org to discuss any of the following. Sponsor a Lego Contest Are you a Master Builder or do you want to inspire future Master Builders? If so, you should consider sponsoring a Lego contest! Last week, a FDA family sponsored a lego challenge in STEMRec. The theme of the contest was “Things that Fly”. There were three categories in which students could win prizes for their entry: Most Creative, Funniest, and Best in Show. When the challenge was judged, our sponsoring family ended up awarding three honorable mentions, in addition to the category winners, because there were so many delightful entries they couldn’t choose just three! Our students had

STEM Rec Challenges February 5 - 9, 2018 Science Matter expands. When an object's temperature increases its molecules vibrate more and spread out. In other words: matter expands with heat (usually). Students will experiment with making gases and solids expand or contact at different temperatures. Literacy Mission Impossible: This week in literacy, students are going to need all the help they can get with a top secret mission! We're focusing on handwriting and calligraphy skills. Students will practice their best writing in hopes of completing their mission. Social Studies Jim Crow Laws . In honor of Black History Month, social studies is starting a series of challenges about the American Civil Rights Movement.  This week we'll learn about Jim Crow laws and how those laws would impact kids at the time. Technology Snap Circuits. The first week of every month, Miss Anita will be available to help students progress with their snap circuit challenges.