PUE3Quest

Last week, my 3rd-grade explorers embarked on an exciting adventure into the world of rocks, minerals, and crystals! They examined over 200 different specimens, each with its unique characteristics. With the aid of magnifying glasses, these young geologists meticulously examined the intricate patterns and dazzling hues of each specimen.  Among the collection, one specimen particularly captivated their attention: a fossilized shark tooth. The students were fascinated by its sharp edges, unique shape, and dark color. This exciting find sparked discussions about prehistoric life and the process of fossilization (the next day, we actually made our own fossils). Many students quickly found a favorite among the collection on stones. Each was excited to show me their find, as well as point out its unique characteristics. Some details that were noticed were shininess, magnetic pull, crystal formation, stripes, metallic appearance, and vibrant colors. It was a good day to be a ge...

Earlier this month, my amazing 3rd graders embarked on an exciting artistic journey, exploring the captivating world of abstract art! Forget perfectly rendered landscapes and portraits – we delved into a realm where lines, shapes, and colors take center stage, becoming expressions of emotions and ideas rather than representations of reality. Our artistic adventure continued by focusing on the building blocks of abstract art: lines and shapes. We experimented with different types of lines – thick, thin, zig-zag, wavy – and how they could be combined to form various shapes, both geometric (like circles and squares) and organic (like blobs and squiggles). Next, we explored the fascinating world of color, specifically warm and cool colors. We learned that  warm colors  like red, yellow, and orange can make an artwork feel energetic and inviting, while  cool colors  like blue, green, and purple can create a sense of calmness and tranquility.  We also revisited the fo...