MOST POPULAR VIDEOS

• 3:24 Week 12 of 2022-23| 5th-8th Grade Science

  This week's slideshow highlights: a rare sighting of "Leroy the Catfish" in our classroom aquatic ecosystem; 7th graders set up a couple of science demonstrations and experiments such as "leaf chromatography" to investigate why leaves turn colors in autumn, as well as "How can Superworms eat and safely biodegrade styrofoam?:;Decatur 5th-8th grade students gearing up for their upcoming First Lego League Tournament by teaching each other coding and showing their creativity through planning their innovation projects; 6th grade was busy this week working in cooperative groups to research the topic of "Greenroofs" and how they help combat climate change, in particular the phenomenon of the "Urban Heat Island Effect"; 5th graders explored why the seasons change by analyzing and interpreting data from a Scientific Simulation of the Earth's tilt combined with its yearly orbit around the sun; 7th graders were excited to break open a box that just arrived that contains a hydroelectric kit that they will assemble and test to see how running water can transfer energy to produce electricity; 7th graders also observed as I dissected aquatic planaria so that they can see how planaria can reproduce asexually through binary fission and regeneration; and last but not least, another sighting of Curtiss, our class pet Bearded Dragon. Thanks for checking in with us this week:)

  Uploaded Nov 12, 2022 by Gerard Kovach
• 3:36 Week 25 of 2022-23| 5th - 8th Grade Science

  This week's slideshow highlights: 8th graders conducting a taste test experiment to see if they can taste the difference between tap water, bottled purified water (taken from a tap at another municipal water supply somewhere), bottled distilled water, and bottled spring water as they have been exploring plastics as part of their "Chemistry of Materials" SEPUP unit; 8th grade also investigated a lab where they crosslinked two polymers the same way chemists do who work to create various plastics as they made a plastic that resembled slime; 7th grade continued exploring genetics; 6th graders explored how natural resources are unevenly distributed around the world due to past geologic events and they performed some in-depth data collection-analysis-interpretation of how ground water aquifers are impacted as well by both natural events and human activity; and 5th grade continued their unit on "Weather & Climate" with a couple of cooperative investigations to learn more about prevailing winds and how they impact global and regional climates; and there is a pic of a rare sighting of the elusive "Leroy the catfish" in our classroom aquatic ecosystem. Thank you for checking in with us this week:)

  Uploaded Mar 05, 2023 by Gerard Kovach
• 1:28 5th grade Amal Unbound Dance Performances Featured

  Students created dances based upon their reading of the novel, Amal Unbound.

  Uploaded May 28, 2022 by Ryan Cherry
• 00:34 5th grade Sediment Lab Featured

  In our pursuit to make a salad dressing that stays mixed together, we tested different ingredients to see if they would create sediment in water or if they would dissolve.

  Uploaded Feb 12, 2022 by Ryan Cherry
• 00:15 Building Structures

  Today, students build structures to withstand the wind and rain of a hurricane.

  Uploaded Feb 18, 2022 by LeiAnna Carrasco
• 00:50 Coding & Penguins in Disguise

  Our Makerspace has been busy this week as Decatur's FIRST Lego League prepared for a city qualifier on Sunday, December 12. FIRST Lego League were not the only ones coding this week, as 7th and 8th graders explored using Sphero Bolt robots to get through a maze. Students will explore using both the 'joystick' feature as well as block coding to get through the maze. Meanwhile, inspired by the story "Tacky the Penguins" students in K-4 have been designing disguises to save a penguin. Check back next week for our final disguises and updates from our city qualifier on Sunday!

  Uploaded Dec 10, 2021
• 00:20 Day of Play

  The third graders had fun creating during our "Day of Play".

  Uploaded Feb 05, 2020
• 1:19 Decatur JHS STEM Fair

  All 7th & 8th grade students recently presented their STEM Fair Projects to their classmates and last week several students chose to present their projects to volunteer judges at our Decatur JHS STEM Fair. 5 students, two 8th graders and three 7th graders have advanced to represent Decatur at CPS Regional STEM Fair Competition!
  
  A special thank you to all of the volunteer STEM Fair Judges, who also share a passion for STEM learning, and included some professional engineers, Northwestern University STEM students, CPS Dept. of STEM leaders, and our very own Decatur LSC members: Megan Redfern; Dan Xu; and Norman Gelfand.

  Uploaded Jan 21, 2023 by Gerard Kovach
• 2:12 Decatur LEGO League Team Participates in Regional Tournament

  Our Decatur Lego League students participated in their Regional Tournament this Saturday at Michele Clark High School. Ms. Mendoza and I are so proud of both of our teams, The Golden Bricks and The Mini-figures! We had 22 students in total who were comprised of a mix of energetic, creative, and determined 5th, 6th, 7th, & 8th grade students! Team members learned so many skills that they will build upon as lifelong learners such as: problem-solving under pressure; gracious professionalism while learning to work as a team to complete a shared mission; computer science and engineering design practices; planning and delivering a team research-based presentation to professional engineers; and the importance of maintaining a growth mindset amidst challenges and adversity! Thank you parents for all of your support this year and we look forward to our team members continued collaboration to improve their knowledge and skills to prepare for next year!

  Uploaded Dec 11, 2022 by Gerard Kovach
• 1:37 Design a pencil box that can hold at least 6 new pencils, with a handle AND has a lid that closes. Are YOU up to the challenge?

  Students had fun designing pencil cases this week in Makerspace. Agreeing on a group plan was tricky at first, but it was great to see how students combined their ideas together to make their design. One group even managed to create one pencil case with three different ways to close it! Students in 1st grade were even able to explore Makerspace stations this week, figuring out how to manipulate their manipulatives to create the design they wanted. What an exciting week!

  Uploaded Oct 15, 2021