MOST POPULAR VIDEOS

• 2:46 Week 10 of 2022-23| 5th - 8th Grade Science

  This week's slideshow highlights: 8th graders taking a classroom movement break to a song they learned in 1st grade; 8th grade explored physics by further investigating Newton's Laws of Motion; all students spent time on Thursday & Friday of this week continuing to explore Experimental Design to get ready for STEM Fair (7th & 8th grades it is a review as they are already working on their chosen inquiry projects--and for 5th & 6th grades it is an introduction as they will conduct small cooperative group experiments with more guidance from Mr. K). The explorations involved using microscopy to collect and record observations of various aquatic organisms (Daphnia, Planaria, Paramecium, Amoeba, and Euglena). Students were really excited to see them interacting, responding to environmental stimuli such as light, and in some cases, giving birth and consuming other species. The next step is to take the students' own questions so that they can design experiments of their own, such as the amazing regenerative properties of Planaria, while they apply the "Elements of Scientific Experimental Design", which goes to the higher order thinking NGSS Science & Engineering Practices. Thank you for checking in with us this week:)
  

  Uploaded Oct 29, 2022 by Gerard Kovach
• 3:18 Week 13 of 2022-23| 5th-8th Grade Science

  This week's slideshow highlights: 7th graders exploring the role of carbohydrate and protein macromolecules and their subunits in metabolism both outside and inside cells; 6th graders worked in teams to research how "Green Roofs" can be engineered to reduce urban runoff as well as the "Urban Heat Island" phenomenon; 8th grade wrapped up their physics unit with a lab investigating the effects of mass and speed on a vehicle's breaking distance to avoid a collision; 7th graders strengthening their classroom community through spending their "Earned Points" on some cooperative game time; 6th graders watching energy cycle through our classroom Lake Michigan aquatic ecosystem as the larger fish eat some feeder fish just added to the system; and this week's show ends with a JHS Community Building Incentive Trip to Waveland Bowl. 6th-8th Graders were split up into multigrade level teams and had so much FUN bowling together!

  Uploaded Nov 22, 2022 by Gerard Kovach
• 2:59 Week 16 of 2022-23| 5th-8th Grade Science

  This last week of 2022 slideshow highlights: 7th & 8th grade students presenting their STEM Fair Inquiry Projects to their classmates, topics presented included a study on permeable pavements to prevent urban flooding, the most accurate form for basketball players' free throw shooting performance, and the effect of forest fire smoke on plants' ability to produce oxygen through photosynthesis; 5th grade students investigating climate types through analysis of climatological weather averages; the 5th graders also got to interview one of our 8th grade students as she presented to their class on her family's experience of surviving a recent historically dangerous hurricane when they lived in the US Virgin Islands; 6th graders observing their newly germinated cover crops and setting up more seedlings to use in their green roof experiments project along with a pic of happy volunteer 6th graders cleaning up Mr. K's desk; a fun pic of 7th grade homeroom 1011 students taken out on our playground that they then used to make and then send Holiday cards to all of our Decatur staff members; and some pics of 6th and 8th grade classes enjoying some "earned game time" to close out the last day before winter break! Thank you for checking in with us this week and Happy Holidays and New Year to your family! See you again in 2023:)

  Uploaded Dec 23, 2022 by Gerard Kovach
• 3:49 Week 8: October 18-22, 2021

  This week's slideshow has pics of: 6th grade class conducting an experiment outdoors which modeled how the Earth's water and land absorb and lose thermal energy and how that impacts regional weather and climate; a 6th grader who took his data analysis to another level presenting to his classmates; 8th grade class making "Critters" to show various traits that were inherited from parent to offspring--they were learning about how genotype of parents can affect the variation of phenotypes within siblings from the same parents; 8th graders presenting their "Critters" to their classmates; 7th graders conducting a cooperative lab experiment modeling the structure and function of cell membranes; and 7th graders on our field trip to Iron Oaks Outdoor Education Center--they did such an amazing job of upholding Decatur Expectations by taking care of each other while enduring some fun team challenges set up by the Iron Oaks education staff.
  
  Thanks for checking in and please ask your child more about their learning experiences from this week!

  Uploaded Oct 23, 2021 by Gerard Kovach
• 00:11 4th Grade Fitness Day

  This is one of our weekly fitness days.
  
  We focus on increasing our muscular strength and cardiovascular endurance.

  Uploaded Dec 05, 2022
• 1:29 5th Grade- FTM Escape Room

  Students started the week out by participating in a Freak the Mighty Escape room. They were then given the challenge to create their own FTM escape room and have their classmates try and escape!

  Uploaded Jan 24, 2020 by Katherine Cooper
• 00:25 5th Math Buying a Car Project Gallery Walk Featured

  Students applied their understanding of unit rate and percentages to buying a car of their choice and either finding the energy costs (gas or electric) for the year or various aspects of the financing involved in getting the car.

  Uploaded Mar 06, 2022 by Ryan Cherry
• 1:31 First 2 weeks of 2021-2022

  We spent the first 2 weeks of Science Class establishing class agreements/norms and participated in community-building activities to set the stage for cooperative learning in Science class. We also got to see our class pet lizards again, and were introduced to our new baby slider turtle! Please check out the pics in the slideshow!

  Uploaded Sep 10, 2021 by Gerard Kovach
• 1:07 Makerspace: Sep 8-11

  Congratulations and thank you to students and families for completing Week 1 of Remote Learning! Students have made great adjustments in our new learning environment. 4th-7th grade in Makerspace began building community by creating Play Doh creations of facts about their lives. It was great to see students' creativity come to life as we learned more about each other. Students began taking risks as they aimed to build the tallest tower they could using Play Doh and no more than 20 toothpicks. It was fascinating to see students being open to share when their towers fell but continue to persevere in starting a new design; sometimes even creating a tower inspired by another students' design.

  Uploaded Sep 14, 2020
• 00:35 Mystery Box Lab Featured

  Students engaged in an investigation with a Mystery Box where they considered what animals need to find their food and imagined that what was in the box was their food. They looked inside of the box to see that it was not possible to see if there is no light and then talked with their groups to decide what changes could be made to allow someone to see inside the box and came to the conclusion that light is needed to see inside the box.

  Uploaded Nov 03, 2022 by Ryan Cherry