Week of March 2

Last Friday, the students all shared a commercial they had created for the game they made on their January book.  The students were asked to create a game telling about the events for their science fiction book.  Here are some pictures of the students sharing their games through the commercials.

We had a great debate this week on whether all students who are healthy, regardless of religion or beliefs, should be required to get a measles vaccine.  The students spent time researching both sides of the argument and only found out on which side they would be arguing right before the debate.  They were given about 5 minutes to use their research to write their opening statements, then worked with their group to decide who would say their statement.  When the other side was speaking, the students were asked to take notes to help write their rebuttals.  Again, every student wrote a rebuttal for their side, but only one person shared theirs on each side in the debate. Once both rebuttals were given, the students then wrote a closing statement.  

It was interesting to see and hear how their thinking about the topic changed over the course of the study.  Most of the students originally felt that vaccines should be a requirement, but by the end of the debate, their feelings had mostly changed.  Here are some of the reflections about the debate.

     "My thinking changed.  I thought that everybody should get the vaccine, but now I think different.  It's against the constitution.  There can be serious reactions that can lead to death.  It will make people turn against their religion."

     "At first I thought that people should get vaccines.  I still think it because a small number of people die with vaccines vs. a larger number of people dying without.  Another reason is that it saves money, time and lives.  That's why my mind didn't change."

     "At first, I thought that getting a vaccine would make everyone immune to the disease, which is true.  But know I know that there are severe side effects from rashes to death.  I also now know that it is unconstitutional to force people to do things against their will.  But I still think everyone should get one."

     "Before I thought that we should and that we shouldn't make everyone have a vaccine.  But the cons said the thing about how making people from religions have a vaccine when it's against them.  They said that that was like making a vegetarian eat meat for the rest of their life.  That is why I now think everyone shouldn't have to get a vaccine."

The Peacocks did a great job hosting the Seabury School Dr. Seuss Trivia Contest today.  They wrote and asked the questions, judged and kept score.  The Spirits won this year!  Congratulations to all of the teams on a job well done.

Week of February 17

The students went on a field trip to the Tacoma Art Museum last Thursday to see their new wing dedicated to the Haub Family Collection of Western Art.  We studied some famous western artists before the museum trip and saw works from many artists, including Remington, Proctor, and Bierstadt. The students also had the opportunity to walk over the Bridge of Glass and have lunch with the middle school.  Here is what the students had to say about the trip.   

     "I loved the art museum.  My favorite painting was a canyon painting.  I thought it was a picture at first!  My favorite part of the tour was where you could make your own art.  I simulated a painting that had a Native American.  That's why I loved the art museum."

     "I learned about a Mexican artist.  He painted a beautiful painting of the Grand Canyon.  I loved it because it was so realistic. The sun was setting and there was stunning shading.  Although he used dull colors he made it look pretty. I had so much fun."

     "My favorite sculpture was the one of a puma by Alexander Proctor.  I learned that bronze sculptures were made by the sculptor making a mold and then they pour the bronze into it.  I enjoyed having the person telling us about a picture that was of the Grand Canyon.  I likes the sculpture of the dog.  I liked going to TAM."

     "I liked the Tacoma Art Museum.  I learned that back then people would get a canvas and paints, and go to a sight and paint it. My favorite part was when I went to Infinite Soups."

    "These are my favorite parts of the TAM.  First, my favorite painting was Clyde Aspevig's "On the Way to Heaven" because of the landscape.  I also liked when we drew in the draw your own picture section of the TAM.  Last, the bronze sculptures section of the Wild West exhibit was cool too.  Those are my favorite parts of the TAM."

     "We went to the Tacoma Art Museum.  I learned about the old American West.  My favorite part was the sculptures in the art exhibit.  I had a good time at the Tacoma Art Museum.  My class went to the Tacoma Art Museum."

     "I loved the museum trip.  I loved the trip because we got to see a lot of western art.  My favorite was one with a neon wolf.  Mr. Adam took a picture with the painting and me.  I learned about how to use conception with the background.  I also liked when we got to draw.  That is why I loved the museum."

     "I chose the statue Panther for this paragraph, here are some things about it.  It was made by Mr. Proctor.  It was made in 1944-1945.  It is made of copper.  It is made ready to pounce on an unfortunate deer.  That is all I know about Panther."

     "Before I went to the TAM, I went through the bridge with Chihuly glass and saw the highway.  I learned about the method of art some western painters used. I saw President George Washington's portrait.  I drew a picture of figures in different poses.  The Tacoma Art Museum was awesome!"

Week of February 9

In such a short week, we had 2 fabulous guest speakers.  On Monday, we had one of the 5th grade parents, Dr. Sprenger, visit. She is a cellular biologist with the UW, and she explained to the students about her work in looking for cancer treatments.  She led the students in an experiment that tested for a virus, just as she does in her lab.  The students spent time prepping, taking samples, measuring liquids, washing the samples, and discovering whether they had the virus, in this case, the Zombie virus.  The students loved the experiment, and luckily, were able to get the zombie cure in the end!

We were also fortunate to have the grandfather of one of the students visit us.  He does presentations as Toussaint Charbonneau from the Lewis and Clark expeditions, as well as ghost tours in Idaho.  He gave the students lots of information about Native American sign language, the trading of goods and furs, as well as information about the journey of the Lewis and Clark party.