5th Grade - Spring Break 4/2014 - We are technology

Technology is everywhere. Often, we think all things are created with things like computers. We also tend to think computers are what make everything better. But that is not always the case. Sometimes the greatest technology is the human mind and it's creative potential...




We've all seen a kaleidoscope  But have you ever seen one made with people? Made without any help from a computer?

Watch this video and look for the assignment below:

TEDxSUMMIT - The Power of X from WE ARE Pi on Vimeo.

A quote from the description of the video:

...they fused architecture, dance, math and magic into a bespoke18-meter high triangular mirrored structure that hovered over a multi-colour moving floor to create the world’s first Human Arabesque (with no computer graphics). 

An Arabesque is a form of art that reminds me of a kaleidoscope.

The "Power of X" as they say, to me, means "the power of our minds & creativity." The power of our potential.

Your assignment:

After watching this video post a comment with your thoughts and reflections about what you saw. Use these questions as a guide:

• Have you ever seen a human kaleidoscope?
• Now that you know they made that video without computer animation, what do you think you can create & accomplish without computers?
• If I asked you to create something amazing, without a computer, what would you define that as? What would you try to make?
• If you could do anything in the world, but couldn't use a computer or any other technology, what would you do?

Please post your comments in full and complete sentences with proper grammar, spelling & punctuation.

Have a great Spring Break!

Remember - Comment as "Name/URL" and use your first name and last initial (proper capitalization, no URL)- please respond in full and complete sentences - double check your work before posting your comment.

Grade 5 - Yosemite

5th graders,
Since Mr. Casal is absent you will watch the video below and answer the questions. When you are finished, and have successfully posted a comment you may continue to work on your "Me2013" Google Presentations.

Remember, you will not be watching the video on your computer, only on the Smartboard. Mr. Waisome will play the video a few times as you read the questions and post your answers to the questions.

The United States has many National Parks. Yosemite is one of them.

First protected in 1864, Yosemite National Park is best known for its waterfalls, but within its nearly 1,200 square miles, you can find deep valleys, grand meadows, ancient giant sequoias, a vast wilderness area, and much more.

The video:

Yosemite HD II from Project Yosemite on Vimeo.

Some informations about the video:

A 200+ mile backpacking experience through Yosemite National Park captured by Colin Delehanty and Sheldon Neill. This project was filmed over the course of 10 months. We spent a combined 45 days in the park capturing the images in this video.

If you want to read more about the makers of the video, click here

Your questions:

• Have you ever been to a National Park?
• Have you ever been to Yosemite?
• When you watched the video, what stood out to you the most?
• What did the video make you think about?
• After watching the video, would you want to go to Yosemite?
• What are your overall impressions of Yosemite after watching the video?

Remember - Comment as "Name/URL" and use your first name and last initial (proper capitalization, no URL). Please respond in full and complete sentences. Double check your work before posting your comment.

When you are finished, and have successfully posted a comment you may continue to work on your "Me2013" Google Presentations.

5th Grade - February 2/2014 - The Science of the Winter Olympics

The Olympic Winter Games are currently happening. They started on February 7th and go until the closing ceremony on February 23rd.

Below are a few videos about how some Olympians compete in their sports...

(for more videos check out the website NBC Learn)

Choose one of the videos to watch. After you watch it, post a comment about what you learned. Is it a sport you might want to try? Does seeing the video make it easier to understand how the athletes compete? Has your idea of the Olympics and the athletes changed since watching the video?

These are a few questions to get you thinking. Pick a video, watch it, and post a comment on your thoughts related to what you saw, heard, and learned...

Downhill Science (Alpine skiing):

Air Lift (Ski Jump):

The science of Snowboarding:

Figure Out Figure Skating:

Watch one of the videos here, or feel free to go to the Science of the Olympic Winter Games website to check out some of the others. Make sure to post your thoughts about the video you watched when you are done.

Your questions:

• Is it a sport you might want to try? 

• Does seeing the video make it easier to understand how the athletes do the sport? 

• Has your idea of the Olympics and the athletes changed since watching the video?

• Any additional thoughts you would like to share?

Please respond in full and complete sentences, paragraph form. Double check your work before posting your comment. Once you post your comment, Mr. Casal will be notified and he will grade and approve your post. Your comment will not appear on the blog until Mr. Casal has read and approved it.

Have a great week off, watch the Olympics, and have fun!

Remember - Comment as "Name/URL" and use your first name and last initial (proper capitalization, no URL). Please respond in full and complete sentences. Double check your work before posting your comment.

Class 5-404 blogs...

Class 5-404 blogs...

These blogs were originally created in the computer lab under the direction of Mr. Casal using their PS 10 Google Apps for Education accounts. Since their initial creation the students have taken 100% control of the direction and content that appears on their blogs (while meeting the guidelines of the PS 10 acceptable use policy)

These blogs were started in 2012 when the students were in the 4th grade. It was the first foray of any class into the world of student-driven blogging. Prior to this students comment on teacher-written posts. This was an opportunity to give students control of their digital publishing.
(roughly 10 students are new to the class this year, so their blogs are not as robust and populate yet)

Some posts are on specific topics with specific guidelines set forth by Mr. Casal. Some posts are entirely independent free writes, completely inspired by the students alone. The layout and design of the blogs is similarly guided, some layout elements are required, but for the most part the students are free to design as they see fit.

When they leave PS 10 if they would like to keep their blogs they will be able to change ownership to a personal Google account.

These blogs are intended to be student directed & controlled creative outlets to showcase their talents...




Ajax: http://newyorkknicksajax.blogspot.com/
Amelia: http://splapaint.blogspot.com/
Brisa: http://brisafkane.blogspot.com/
Caleb: http://calebkoolstuff.blogspot.com/
Carter: http://carterkportfolio.blogspot.com/
CC: http://crazyccwarriors.blogspot.com/
Elsa: http://bornothology.blogspot.com/
George: http://george-minecraft.blogspot.com/
Hershel: http://dibikg.blogspot.com/
Ian: http://iansgportfolio.blogspot.com/
Justice: http://justicecportfolio.blogspot.com/
Kai: http://kaisportfolio.blogspot.com/
Leandro: http://lg123soccer.blogspot.com/
Lauren: http://msmythology.blogspot.com/
Maddie: http://more-maddie.blogspot.com/
Marvin: http://marvinhportfolio.blogspot.com/
Max: http://veyronmine.blogspot.com/
Nora: http://norakhportfolio.blogspot.com/
Michelangelo: http://mikedoodlesies.blogspot.com/
Nyklos: http://wilsonbasketball.blogspot.com/
Owen C: http://oacthinks.blogspot.com/
Owen T: http://taberthoughts.blogspot.com/
Rajesh: http://rajeshsreptiles.blogspot.com/
Taylor: http://taylorjsportfolio.blogspot.com/
Tim: http://nbatimothy.blogspot.com/
Tristyn: http://insanityblogyea.blogspot.com/
Unni: http://greekmyth-unni.blogspot.com/
Waheeb: http://waheebpportfolio.blogspot.com/



And just becuase I think it's great to see:
http://tomerronen.blogspot.com/
Tomer is a former student and was a member of the class when we started the blogs. His family moved out of state but he has maintained his blog. It's great to see him keeping up even though he's no longer at PS 10!

Grade 5 - People of New York

Grade 5,

I am out of school at an educational technology conference. I am being a student, learning from other teachers new tools, ideas, and how I can be a better computer teacher. Learning never stops, even if you're a teacher.

You will watch the video below and answer a few questions...

For anyone that has difficulty commenting you can read this post and watch the video and if you still have questions, this post might be helpful too....

People of New York Part II from Rustad Media on Vimeo.

Your questions...

• The video was mostly shot in Times Square. Time Square is often called the "crossroads of the world." Why do you think that is?
• What was one thing that stood out to you?
• What does it feel like to watch people as they go about their day? 
• When the time-lapse portions started, many of those shots were not in Manhattan. Do you know where they were? Did you recognize any of the locations?
• What does watching a video like this make you think about New York?
• Does this video give you any ideas as to why people might love coming here, or living here?

Answer these questions in full and complete detailed sentences (at least one full paragraph) as a comment below...

Remember - Comment as "Name/URL" and use your first name and last initial (proper capitalization, no URL)- please respond in full and complete sentences - double check your work before posting your comment.

5th Grade - Christmas 12/2013 - The possibilities of technology

Technology provides a wide range of possibility and opportunity.

There is possibility to create in ways previously unavailable. Opportunity to see & experience things previously out of reach. Possibility and opportunity to discover and question all the things in your world.

The greatest power of technology is that possibility and opportunity to question what you see & find answers for yourself.

Your assignment...

Watch this video:

Impressive, right?

Question 1:

• Do you think it is truly possible to create that drawing with only an iPad?

Now, watch this video:

Questions 2 & 3:

• Does it change your thinking now that you can see his hands on the iPad?
• Does your idea of possibility change seeing another example?

Read this short article...
Why the Morgan Freeman Finger Painting is Probably Not Fake


Final Question

• Having watched those 2 videos, and read the article, What do you think? If is possible to create something so realistic with just a finger and an iPad? 

Please explain your answer with detail and examples from what you saw and read.

Please post your answers to all 4 questions as a comment below. Remember, use full & complete sentences and check your spelling and grammar.

Enjoy the video and have a great vacation!


Remember - Comment as "Name/URL" and use your first name and last initial (proper capitalization, no URL)- Comments with last names will not be published! Please respond in full and complete sentences - double check your work before posting your comment. 

5th Grade - Thanksgiving 11/2013 - Who's Coming to Dinner?

Imagine you are hosting Thanksgiving. You can invite one person to eat with. That one person can be anyone at all. It must be a living person, but other than that you can choose anyone in the world to share Thanksgiving dinner....

Who would you choose? Why them?

Your assignment:

• Name the person you'd choose to eat with
• Explain your rational for choosing this person. Why them?
• Describe what you would want to talk about with this person during dinner

Post your response, in full and complete sentences, as a comment to this blog post. Comment as "Name/URL" and use your first name and last initial (proper capitalization, no URL)- please respond in full and complete sentences - double check your work before posting your comment.

Your comment will not appear right away. I, Mr Casal, will receive an email when you post a comment and I will publish it as soon as I see it. 

Thank you, and have a good Thanksgiving...

Remember - Comment as "Name/URL" and use your first name and last initial (proper capitalization, no URL)- please respond in full and complete sentences - double check your work before posting your comment.

5-405 - Your Year In Review

5-405,

Please comment with your reflections on the year & look forward to next year.

Use these questions as a guide. You do not need to answer them specifically or in order, just use them to help form your thoughts and guide your writing...

• What was your favorite part of the year? Be descriptive...
• What one thing did you learn that stands out the most? Why was it so meaningful?
• What activity (field trip, Opera, project, etc) was most memorable & why?
• What are you looking forward to about the summer?
• What are you looking forward to about 6th grade?
• What do you think about leaving elementary school and moving to middle school?

Every comment should be at least 2 paragraphs and written with proper sentence structure, grammar, and punctuation.

Remember - Comment as "Name/URL" and use your first name and last initial (proper capitalization, no URL)- please respond in full and complete sentences - double check your work before posting your comment.

5-405 - Twitter

Students of class 5-405,
Last week we did our first lesson about Twitter and how to post a tweet. Today we did a quick review.

I would like you to comment with answers to a few questions. This is a bit of a quiz on some of the terms we learned last week as well as a personal reflection.

Here are the questions (the first 6 are short answer, the last 2 are extended response)...

5-403 - Twitter

Students of class 5-403,
Last week we did our first lesson about Twitter and how to post a tweet. Today we did a quick review.

I would like you to comment with answers to a few questions. This is a bit of a quiz on some of the terms we learned last week as well as a personal reflection.

Here are the questions (the first 6 are short answer, the last 2 are extended response)...

5-401 - Twitter

Students of class 5-401,
Last week we did our first lesson about Twitter and how to post a tweet. Today we did a quick review.

I would like you to comment with answers to a few questions. This is a bit of a quiz on some of the terms we learned last week as well as a personal reflection.

Here are the questions (the first 6 are short answer, the last 2 are extended response)...

5th Grade - Spring Break 3/2013 - We Are Technology

Technology is everywhere. Often, we think all things are created with things like computers. We also tend to think computers are what make everything better. But that is not always the case. Sometimes the greatest technology is the human mind and it's creative potential...

5th Grade - February Vacation 2/2013 - Sandy & Our Vacation

5th Graders,
Welcome to your February Vacation assignment.

As you know we now have a shortened vacation due to the days of school we missed after Hurricane Sandy struck in October.

Your assignment for February vacation is...

5th Grade - Christmas Break 12/2012 - Time Lapse

5th Graders,
Ever want to see all of New York City in 5 minutes? Central Park change colors during the Fall in less than 3 minutes? New York in both day and night, at the same time?

Time lapse, that's how!

What is "time lapse" you ask?

5th Grade - Spring Break 4/2012 - The Art of Ocean Currents

Below is a video made by NASA. It shows the currents of the worlds oceans.

Many people think it reminds them of the work of the famous artist Vincent van Gogh...

5th Grade - February Break 2/2012 - 360 Degrees Around the World

Have you ever wanted to look at something from above? Have you ever wanted to look at a monument of city from every angle?

A panorama is a wide-angle look at something. 360 degrees is a full circle...

There is a website that has taken 360 degree panoramic images of famous places and made them available for free on the internet. The company uses helicopters and a variety of cameras to make these 360 degree panoramic photos.

These photos are wide angle looks at various places, wide-angle views from every angle in all directions.

Your assignment:

5th Grade - Christmas Break 12/2011 - Is Technology Valuable to You?

5th graders,
You have sat in this, or another, computer lab for the better part of 5 years.

You have learned how to word process, make presentations, use the internet for research, and so on.

I have 4 questions, answer them in full and complete sentences with proper spelling and grammar...

(click "Read More" to see the questions)

5th Grade - Thanksgiving - Who's Coming to Dinner?

Imagine you are hosting Thanksgiving. You can invite one person to eat with. That one person can be anyone at all. It must be a living person, but other than that you can choose anyone in the world to share Thanksgiving dinner....

Who would you choose? Why them?



Your assignment:

• Name the person you'd choose to eat with
• Explain your rational for choosing this person. Why them?
• Describe what you would want to talk about with this person during dinner

Post your response, in full and complete sentences, as a comment to this blog post. Comment as "Name/URL" and use your first name and last initial (proper capitalization, no URL)- please respond in full and complete sentences - double check your work before posting your comment.

Your comment will not appear right away. I, Mr Casal, will receive an email when you post a comment and I will publish it as soon as I see it.


Thank you, and have a good Thanksgiving...






Remember - Comment as "Name/URL" and use your first name and last initial (proper capitalization, no URL)- please respond in full and complete sentences - double check your work before posting your comment.

5th Grade - Spring Break - The Space Shuttle...

In honor of New York City getting a space shuttle (albeit a prototype) your Spring Break assignment revolves around NASA and the Space Shuttle program.

Your assignment:
Watch the video about the history of the Space Shuttle.

Write a response to the video as a comment here on the blog.
- Here are some questions to get you thinking about the type of response to write:
> What do you think about the video?
> What did you learn from it?
> What was the most interesting part of the video for you?

Write your response in full and complete sentences.




Here are some other space related links you might also find interesting (feel free to comment about the links too):

Space Shuttle fact site
NASA video gallery
Solar System


Have a great vacation...



Remember - Comment as "Name/URL" and use your first name and last initial (proper capitalization, no URL)- please respond in full and complete sentences - double check your work before posting your comment.

5th Grade - February Break - This day in history...

People are born every day. In fact, many people share birth days (not the same year necessarily, but if there are only 356 days odds are a lot of people are born on the same day)

2 people considered important in the world of technology have birthdays this week.

Who are they? Why are they considered important in the world of technology? Have you heard of them before? Do you think they are important to technology?

Use this link:
Click here

This assignment has 2 parts:
Part 1 - Figure out who I am thinking of (born this week and important to technology) and answer the questions:
Who are they? Why are they considered important in the world of technology? Have you heard of them before? Do you think they are important to technology?

Part 2 - Find your birthday in the calendar and answer the questions:
Who was born on the same day you were? Do you recognize any of the names? Do you know why they are famous?


To complete the assignment you must post a comment with answers to all questions in both Part 1 and Part 2.



Have a great vacation...



Remember - Comment as "Name/URL" and use your first name and last initial (proper capitalization, no URL)- please respond in full and complete sentences - double check your work before posting your comment.