6th Grade Field Trip - West Wing - Oval Office - Oct 26, 2012

http://www.qualitywestwing.org/

Every student's introduction to our government should be one that leaves a lasting impression of how fortunate they are to be living in America.

Naturally a trip to Washington, D.C. featuring a tour of Capitol Hill, viewing the Congress and the Senate in session, along with seeing our Supreme Court in action would be the most desirable. But now, there is a local option for your students.

Students will be given the opportunity to experience hands-on learning including: A film describing the obstacles our founding fathers overcame in establishing our government. Tests and puzzles to challenge student's knowledge of our government and its structure. Biographies describing the lives of famous Presidents. A detailed scale model of Capitol Hill including our famous monuments. Detailed replicas depicting the interiors and the House, Senate, and Supreme Court buildings in session. The Oval Office - the highlight of the tour. Entering the Oval Office will take your breath away. An interactive computer program that simulates a day in the life of the President of the United States. In this program a student can write a bill, balance the budget, nominate judges for the Supreme Court, do a press conference as well as learn about other important events that occurred during other presidential administrations.

U.S. Senate

An exact replica built by Hollywood set designers, this will be an experience one will not soon forget. Bring your cameras for a photo opportunity with the "President of the United States of America" in the Oval Office. We believe that this hands-on tour of Capitol Hill will be a memorable learning experience that will enhance your classroom curriculum. We certainly hope to see you and your class at the Quality West Wing Oval Office Tour - Washington D.C. right in your own back yard!

6th Grade Classes - S.T.E.M - October 20, 2012

Our Projects

Jitterbugs

The kids had a great time building their Jitterbugs. I was surprised how skilled some of them were at stripping wire. They all hooked up their own motors and power source. After we got them jittering, the kids started decorating. We used googly eyes, pipe cleaners, and puff balls. For seasonal fun, we played with dry ice. We learned dry ice is not frozen water but carbon dioxide. When we add it to warm water, and maybe some soap, we get some spooky results.

Jitterbug Video

6th Grade Experiments - October 15, 2012

Solar Power Kit

Explore the world of Solar Power energy. How does energy of the sun make things work?

Kit Includes:

PV Solar Cell

Motor

Diffraction Foil Disc

6th Grade Field Trip - Bar Mitzvah - October 13, 2012

 Bar Mitzvah -  (Abe's Co-workers son)

Bar Mitzvah and Bat Mitzvah

"Bar Mitzvah" literally means "son of the commandment." "Bar" is "son" in Aramaic, which used to be the vernacular of the Jewish people. "Mitzvah" is "commandment" in both Hebrew and Aramaic. "Bat" is daughter in Hebrew and Aramaic. (The Ashkenazic pronunciation is "bas"). Technically, the term refers to the child who is coming of age, and it is strictly correct to refer to someone as "becoming a bar (or bat) mitzvah." However, the term is more commonly used to refer to the coming of age ceremony itself, and you are more likely to hear that someone is "having a bar mitzvah" or "invited to a bar mitzvah."

So what does it mean to become a bar mitzvah? Under Jewish Law, children are not obligated to observe the commandments, although they are encouraged to do so as much as possible to learn the obligations they will have as adults. At the age of 13 (12 for girls), children become obligated to observe the commandments. The bar mitzvah ceremony formally, publicly marks the assumption of that obligation, along with the corresponding right to take part in leading religious services, to count in aminyan (the minimum number of people needed to perform certain parts of religious services), to form binding contracts, to testify before religious courts and to marry.

In its earliest and most basic form, a bar mitzvah is the celebrant's first aliyah. During Shabbat services on a Saturday shortly after the child's 13th birthday, or even the Monday or Thursday weekday services immediately after the child's 13th birthday, the celebrant is called up to the Torah to recite a blessing over the weekly reading.

Today, it is common practice for the bar mitzvah celebrant to do much more than just say the blessing. It is most common for the celebrant to learn the entire haftarah portion, including its traditional chant, and recite that. In some congregations, the celebrant reads the entire weekly torah portion, or leads part of the service, or leads the congregation in certain important prayers. The celebrant is also generally required to make a speech, which traditionally begins with the phrase "today I am a man." The father traditionally recites a blessing thanking G-d for removing the burden of being responsible for the son's sins (because now the child is old enough to be held responsible for his own actions).

In modern times, the religious service is followed by a reception that is often as elaborate as a wedding reception.

In Orthodox and Chasidic practice, women are not permitted to participate in religious services in these ways, so a bat mitzvah, if celebrated at all, is usually little more than a party. In other movements of Judaism, the girls do exactly the same thing as the boys.

This was his first time at a Bar Mitzvah. A touching ceremony. Amazing family with love, compassion, warmth and faith. A great experience!!!

6th Grade Field Trip - Big Horse Corn Maze - October 12, 2012

 It typically can take one-two hours to do the whole maze at a gingerly pace. Remember, there’s a lot of back-tracking and getting lost. The corn stalks are generally 6-7' tall, so you’re really inside a large living multi-path puzzle. 11+ acre’s of corn maze.

http://www.bighorsecornmaze.com/

Took the kids about 2 hours to get out of the maze. They had  a Super Fun time!!!

6th Grade Field Trip - Independence Hall Knott's Berry Farm - 10-10-12

Independence Hall - Knott's Berry Farm

Walter Knott's deep love of country and home drove him to build the country's only brick-by-brick replica of Independence Hall. It is complete with an exact replica of the Liberty Bell. The hall is offered as a free-admission educational resources to visitors and Orange County residents.

Independence Hall opened in 1966. It is an authentic 3/4 scale, replica of the original Independence Hall in Philadelphia, complete with a 2,075-pound Liberty Bell, weighing only five pounds less than the original. Listen to a re-enactment of a debate over the Declaration of Independence or examine other historical displays. It received a complete restoration in 1998.

The land across Beach Boulevard from Knott's Berry Farm and next door to Independence Hall used to have wide green lawns, a small lake and a train ride. This attraction was replaced in the 1980s to make way for more parking and for a corporate/large group party area.

6th Grade Field Trip - Colonial Presentation September 9, 2012

"Early American History: A Colonial man (associated with Paul Revere) will come into your class and demonstrate the issues and everyday items of the colonial and Revolutionary War period, and print and discuss woodcut prints of Lexington and Concord or the Boston Tea Party, which the students can keep."

The Colonial presentation is 1 hour long. It is a good presentation for early American history and shares a lot of hands-on items for show and some for touch, especially when the kids can make and take home a copy of a wood cut print designed by Paul Revere.

6th Grade Field Trip - San Diego Zoo - October 5, 2012

San Diego Zoo 

Tariq wrote an animal report on the Condor before we went to the San Diego Zoo.

6th Grade Classes - S.T.E.M 10-6-12

Rooftop Gardens

 It was another hot day, but we’re starting to cool off. The heat was actually a benefit to our experiment. Each group made two identical buildings out of foam core and duct tape. On the roof, each building was covered in black sand paper (to act as a black tar roof). One of the building’s roofs was then covered in plastic and then sod. The sod was used to emulate a rooftop garden. Using a thermometer, we then tracked the temperature for 10 minutes and recorded the differences. As expected, most of the groups found the temperature of the buildings with the black roofs to be higher than those with the gardens. For a fun add-on, we also used our invention skills to build a device that could reach a treat that had been taped to the wall about 8 feet up. Each group could only use 2 sheets of newspaper, tape, 5 paperclips, and a cup.

6th Grade Field Trip - Morongo Indian PowWow - Sept 29, 12

The Morongo Band of Mission Indians will celebrate its 22nd annual Thunder and Lightning Powwow starting Friday, Sept. 28. Admission is free for the three-day, family-friendly event, which is expected to attract an estimated 30,000 people.

One of the most anticipated powwows of the year, Morongo’s celebration of American Indian culture is highlighted by a daily Grand Entry. This vibrant parade of color and sound features hundreds of dancers in traditional regalia and dozens of competitive drum groups.

“The Morongo Thunder and Lightning Powwow celebrates the diversity of Native American culture,” said Tribal Chairman Robert Martin of the Morongo Band of Mission Indians. “We are delighted every year to see so many visitors and families joining us to experience the beauty of Native American dance and music and to learn about Native American culture, food and arts and crafts.”

Spectators will see dancers representing tribal nations from across the U.S. and Canada as they compete for prize money. Other events include bird singing and guard dancing exhibitions. Native food vendors will be on hand selling Indian tacos, tamales and Indian frybread. Authentic Native arts and crafts including jewelry, beadwork, pottery, clothing and basketry items will be available for purchase from more than 50 artisans.

The bird songs and dances of the Cahuilla Indians chronicle the experiences and responses of the Cahuilla people as they migrated south. Through bird metaphor and allegory, the songs also act as lessons that instruct tribal members about stages in their lives. The original Cahuilla Bird Songs were composed over more than 300 pieces that formed a cycle of stories. Songs were sung in a precise order that accurately accounted for the chronology of the migration.

The Press Enterprise

Published: 21 September 2012 02:57 PM

6th Grade S.T.E.M class - September 22, 2012

Newton's 1st Law of Motion

Who knew the Law of Inertia could be so much fun?!  We had a penny challenge, learned a tricky trick, spun eggs, and played whoosh ball. Applying Newton’s First Law of Motion to a quick safety lesson, we made our own crash test dummies and tested them on a ramp of varying heights. After all of that, we cooled off with some ice blocking. All that in a Saturday morning :)

Ice Blocking 

6th Grade Classes - S.T.E.M - Sept 8, 2012

First Meeting

What a blast we had at our first meet-up. We loved meeting everyone. What a great group! The meeting was a mix of activities to give everyone a taste of what’s to come. We learned about potential and kinetic energy with water balloon launchers, built water shooters out of pvc, played a couple games, and even made our own steam powered boats! Awesome :)

Temecula STEM Club is full of fun invention challenges and experiments to spark our member’s interest in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).  We learn how the design process helps us with creative problem solving and what inventing is all about. Throughout the year, we also participate in our community and complete service learning projects.