Blogging to share what we're learning about family traditions.

December 11, 2015

The first graders are learning how to blog in order to share what they're learning about family traditions. Each classroom family designates an adult...

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1st Grade Biologists Teaching Each Other Via QR Codes

December 11, 2015

The first graders worked in pairs to create ecosystems of their choice using blocks, pipe cleaners, Legos, construction paper, and craft sticks....

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Sketching Birds' Adaptations at The Field Museum

November 8, 2015

We are inquiring into how scientific observation fuels our understanding of the natural world. What better place to conduct such observation than at...

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Singapore and Chicago Pen Pals: A GEMS Global Connection

November 1, 2015

The GEMS World Academies in Chicago and Singapore just got a little closer. In October our 1st grade friends in Singapore kindly took the time to...

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1st Graders Embark on a Google Expedition

November 1, 2015

The first graders experienced a virtual field study, courtesy of Google. GEMS was selected as a trial school to test out Google Expeditions. (Think...

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Investigating Habitats and Adaptations Through Scientific Observation

October 24, 2015

We ventured out on the CTA 151 bus to the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum as part of our inquiry into biodiversity. This field study supports our...

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Inquiry into Biodiversity: Launch of a New Unit

October 23, 2015

We launched our new inquiry into biodiversity -- the variety of life withing a specific ecosystem -- with a walk across the street to Lakeshore East...

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Global Inquiry: We Analyze 1st Grade Data from GEMS Singapore

October 23, 2015

We closed our inquiry into how people play by analyzing data we received from our new first grade friends at GEMS World Academy in Singapore. We sent...

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1st Graders, STEM, and Play

October 12, 2015

STEM stands for Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics. Our class' inquiry into play has included a rich investigation into physics as our...

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