MOST RECENT VIDEOS

• 6:21 Week 19 of 2022-23 | 5th - 8th Grade Science

  This week's slideshow highlights: 5th grade class investigating Earth's ocean surface temperature distribution patterns to see if there is a relationship with latitude; 6th grade conducted a cooperative group lab experiment to test how "Green Roof" garden designs can lower indoor air temperature to combat the phenomenon of "The Urban Heat Island Effect", as well as how green roofs can reduce urban runoff that often leads to flooding; both 6th and 7th grade classes received a special visit from Northwestern University students who presented to them on their work as part of NU's chapter of "Engineers Without Borders/EWB"; the NU EWB members also led a cooperative group engineering and design STEM challenge where both 7th grade classes got together to see which team of 3 students could design the most effective water filter; 7th grade also wrapped up their Cell Biology SEPUP unit by taking their unit final exam and they began their next SEPUP Inquiry Unit on "Reproduction" by digging into how genes are passed from parents to offspring and sometimes contribute to genetic disorders such as Marfan Syndrome; and 8th grade class worked in cooperative research teams to collect evidence as they participated in a mock Chicago City Council debate on whether plastic, glass, or aluminum should be the material of choice for drink containers within the city as part of their "Chemistry of Materials" SEPUP Inquiry Unit. Thank you for checking in with us this week:)

  Uploaded Jan 27, 2023 by Gerard Kovach
• 00:23 Lunar New Year Celebration

  Thank you to Charlie's mom and family for teaching us about Lunar New Year! Student's learned that this year is year of the rabbit, and they made their own dragon puppets!

  Uploaded Jan 27, 2023 by Nina Placido
• 00:18 Gallery Walk

  In our new social studies unit, we are studying the past, the present and the future. One of the standards that first graders should be able to do is generate questions to further thinking. In this gallery walk, students left their open ended questions on a post it note as they moved quietly through the space.

  Uploaded Jan 27, 2023 by LeiAnna Carrasco
• 00:28 Biographies!

  We are learning about the many people that influenced the world around us.

  Uploaded Jan 26, 2023
• 3:37 Week 18 of 2022-23|5th-8th Grade Science

  This week's slideshow highlights: 5th grade investigating the ratio of water to land on Earth, as well as how water and land absorb and lose thermal energy at different rates as part of their SEPUP Weather & Climate Unit; 6th grade investigated the scientific theory of "Continental Drift" as part of their SEPUP Unit Geologic Processes; 7th grade wrapped up their SEPUP Unit From Cells to Organisms with an interactive activity called "Disease Detectives", where they worked as epidemiologists to argue from evidence the cause of a disease outbreak, and 7th grade also played team Jeopardy to review for the unit's culminating final exam; 8th graders continue digging deeper into their SEPUP Unit Chemistry of Materials, with a cooperative group lab that investigated chemical vs physical properties, and they also began exploring the property of density through an online Phet Simulation. Thank you for checking in with us this week:)

  Uploaded Jan 21, 2023 by Gerard Kovach
• 2:27 Special Tribute to Ms. Mendoza

  5th grade class made some personal cards for Ms. Mendoza to celebrate her time at Decatur and wish her the BEST in her new journey at Chicago's Field Museum! Thank you Ms. Mendoza, we will miss you and wish you all the best, and we look forward to seeing you again at future trips to The Field Museum!

  Uploaded Jan 21, 2023 by Gerard Kovach
• 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
• 00:09 Math Stations

  A bit of organized chaos, but really it's how a first grade classroom should be at times. Some students were simply exploring the balancing scales with objects from the classroom. Other students were working on their Measurement Monsters and others were doing their Lesson 4 practice sheet, which is a Must Do before they can move on to stations.

  Uploaded Jan 20, 2023 by LeiAnna Carrasco
• 00:26 3rd grade Science Gathering Data- Wolves and Inheriting Traits Featured

  In their unit on Inheritance and traits focused around several wolfpacks, groups reviewed and discussed data from the Wolf Family Data Cards and the informational texts, The Code and The Handbook of Traits and recorded their information on a graphic organizer.

  Uploaded Jan 13, 2023 by Ryan Cherry
• 00:14 2023 Vision Board

  All throughout the week we were discussing goal setting. So, we ended the week with this fun vision board project. Thank you to all the families who contributed magazines.

  Uploaded Jan 13, 2023 by LeiAnna Carrasco