Tuesday, January 30, 2018

Out sick today!

Hi all,


Here are your plans for Wednesday.  Please show respect to your teacher today.  Use your time wisely.  I’ll see you all tomorrow.  If any students come in needing tech repair, please refer them to the library for service. Make it a great day!


Basic Plan all Periods
  1. 10 min - Daily Touch typing on Typing Agent (10 min) - TA or NitroType Games on Fri.
  2. 4 min - Check email OR CHECK THE LESSON PLANS on Class Blog (Both the same).
  3. 4 min - Preview the day’s activities with class - Students are working on coding activities.  
  4. P2, 5, & 6 - Coding on code.org/learn - Students will be completing 2 coding projects and posting evidence of their success on their blog with a reflection of the activity.
    1. All students in P2, P5, & P6 need to complete this project Need to do Artist
    2. They can choose an activity of their choice at this site.  Go to this link to choose an activity
    3. After finishing an activity:
      1. take a screenshot of the certificate
      2. Take a sceenshot of the most challenging code you completed
      3. Post these screenshots on your blog and write a reflection about the activity
    4. Early finishers can go on and complete more coding activities for extra credit.  DIY Projects - If you are here, go to Gamestarmechanic.  This is a game design and debugging adventure.  Use the free version.
  5. P4 - Community Service Projects(CSP): All students will be working in as individuals or pairs (No groups) to complete a task listed on their shared group doc.
    1. Early finishers can work on:
      1. Monthly Podcast due 1/31
      2. 3D racecar
      3. Video Game in Scratch
      4. DIY Projects - If you are here, go to Gamestarmechanic.  This is a game design and debugging adventure.  Use the free version.
      5. Listen to & comment on classmates podcasts (on their blog)
  6. 35 min - Work on projects - detailed above
    1. Guest teacher - Students may be collaborating which is encouraged.  Or, they may be just visiting so you will need to move around the classroom and listen into conversations.  THIS IS CRUCIAL FOR GOOD CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT!!!!!
  7. Done with Project - Students can do these activities when complete with project and posting on their blog
    1. DIY ACTIVITIES
Blogger
Modify your blogs themes, colors, and layout
Great game design website.  Sign in, use the year 2004 for registering, select “Get Started” until you get to the “Quest” and click on that.  
Tinkercad
Create a new project or work on an old one
Finish Preparing 3D printed ID
Use tools carefully and clean up work table
Scavenger Hunt
Keep working on the Scavenger Hunt.  Link is in the class blog
Read & AR Test
You can read and test in AR
Code.org
Work on another new task or finish one from last year
Scratch
Go play some games on Scratch!  When you find a game you like, look at the code used to create it


  1. 1 min - Shutting down & logging out - I make all student wait at stations till all headphones, tables, and chairs are neatly arranged.  I excuse one row at a time.   Do not excuse students until workspaces are clean.
    1. P6 needs to put chairs up on FRIDAY!
Reminders:
  • Write good, detailed, and readable reflections.  
  • Email me if you have any question.
  • Collaboration is helpful, socializing is distracting - Know why you are out of your seat and it cannot be to socialize.


I wish you all a good day.  See you tomorrow!

Mr. Garcia

Monday, January 29, 2018

A Day in Space

Hi all, 
Last year's solar eclipse encouraged people to look up into our skies.  I'm encouraging you to keep that momentum going by knowing what is happening in our skies this year.

FYI - Lunar eclipse on the January 31st!  The video below talks about this event.  Info about the event



Part of our success into space has come at great cost.  January 28 is the 32 anniversary of the Space Shuttle Challenger Disaster.  Here are some resources to inform others about what many of us witnessed. 



More resources on previous disasters



Related links to learn more about space exploration
JPL Education Site - Amazing!

Some appropriate quotes.

I touch the future. I teach. 
Christa McAuliffe

If I can get some student interested in science, if I can show members of the general public what's going on up there in the space program, then my job's been done. Christa McAuliffe

There are no passengers on spaceship earth. We are all crew. 
Marshall McLuhan

More to come!  Thinking Mission to Mars!