Film Fest!
Last year, Bixby hosted its first Film Fest, complete with a red carpet and an introduction from Pixar’s Visual Effects Supervisor and Bixby Alum, Danielle Feinberg. This November, our 3rd-5th…
Here a Chick, There A Chick, Everywhere A Chick Chick!
Hatching chicks has been a long tradition at Bixby. While most of the curriculum is taught in Kindergarten and First Grades, all grades get to enjoy the experience of…
Investigating Chemistry With The Critical Topic Of Water
We began with a small bottle of clear water, an ordinary object. I explained that even the most ordinary things can be amazing, if we observe with care, consider what…
A Study of the Sun
Since summer students had already viewed the eclipse at Bixby, we began the new term with a study of the Sun, and it's significant connections to our own world. Starting…
Reflection
Disclaimer: Today, the adorable faces pictured on this blog are a marketing ploy. This entry is all about the professional inner life of their science teacher (and plenty of other…
Science Hopes and Dreams
If you’re near the downstairs island, look for a bulletin board titled “Science Hopes and Dreams.” It’s filled with quotes from our 1st-through-5th grade science students, articulating what they’d like…
Science Assessments The Bixby Way
This time of year, end-of-year reports lead me to a careful examination of my own assessment practices. What have students learned, how do I know they learned it, and how…
Science Inside and Outside the Kindergarten Classroom
Nothing thrills a teacher more than hearing your kids get really excited about a project. Children absolutely love science! When children are engaged in science, there are no disruptions because…
Nitty Gritty Science
In recent weeks, my students reminded me about a teaching goal I’d placed too far on the back burner. They didn’t realize it, of course, but they couldn’t have been…
Chemistry In 1st Grade Science
We just finished up our month-long study of Chemistry in 1st grade science. The classroom was regularly filled by bursts of screams of excitement throughout the unit. At the end…
Wait, That Wasn’t Supposed to Happen!
“Experience, the name men give to their mistakes.” - Oscar Wilde We took some chances with science fair projects this year, your children and I, and the lessons emerging aren’t…
What’s In An Owl Pellet?
Well we have been back in the swing of things for a month now after a happy new year. As we settle back into our rhythms, the rhythm of the…
Animals in Winter
During our walks to Bridgewalk Pond the class started a conversation about animals in the winter. How do animals find food in the winter? How do they stay warm? What…
Learning to Work Together – The Science of Collaboration
January, February, and the beginning of March make up Bixby’s science fair season, when 2nd through 5th graders are asked to call upon a variety of skills. They brainstorm, budget…
Material-Rich, Inquiry-Based Curriculum In Our Science Classroom
Science can be a natural fit for elementary school children. Lessons are frequently kinesthetic by nature. Children have the opportunity to follow their own sense of curiosity and discover answers…
Investigating The Last Fall Colors (A Child Driven Science Experiment In Preschool With Salowa)
“Why do leaves change colors?” Someone replied, “They are getting old. They will all fall on the ground soon.” “Yeah, the trees will all be bare.” “Yes,” I said bringing…
The Science Behind What We See
Imagine as a 2nd or 3rd grader trying to piece together the complex movements of the Earth, moon, and sun, to understand ways those movements affect our lives: seasons, moon…
Inside A Bixby Body
“Oh that tickles.” “Don’t forget to trace my dreadlock.” “I want to have my leg on the body.” These were some of the enthusiastic quotes that came out of the…
A Progressive Approach To Learning The Human Body
Group Time at Bixby Preschool is a wonderful time when our students have a chance for in-depth learning with children their own age and in a smaller class size. The…
Forces, Flight & Fall
4th and 5th Grades: What keeps a bird, or a plane, in the air? 4th and 5th graders are finding out, as they explore the forces and motion of flight.…