Curiosity In The Classroom

So, what are you curious about? Uncover the answers to some of life's most interesting questions and open up your mind to a world of new possibilities by exploring this new website from the Discovery Channel.

Curiosity In The Classroom

KHAN Academy

Looking for something fun to do over THANKSGIVING Break?

Check out Khan Academy http://www.khanacademy.org/about.

It is a website that allows you to work at your own pace and choose the kinds of math problems you want to learn about. There are videos which explain the math concepts and show example problems. Once you are comfortable with the concept, select practice exercises which are randomly generated. You can ask for “hints” and the problem will be broken down step by step for you, if you need extra help.

Khan Academy is free, but you do have to have a Google email address to get started. You parents will need to create a Google Account for you. You will see that there are all kinds of information available through Khan Academy: biology, chemistry, physics, history, economics, SAT prep, art history, etc. This link will show you all the available topics and videos http://www.khanacademy.org/#browse.

So, if you have a moment and want to see something pretty interesting, click on one of these videos and see what you can learn! Happy Learning! ~ Ms. Parker


You can watch videos and do practice without joining, but you must join and be logged in to save your progress. Please follow the instrutions below to join Khan Academy.

How to Join:
1. From the www.khanacademy.org homepage, (It takes a little while to download) and click “login” at the top of the screen. You can sign up using a Google Account. Using Google, you may use your current email address and choose/confirm a password. Then click “I accept. Create my account.”

2. When you are logged in, click “Add a Coach” at the bottom of the screen. Add Mrs. Parker as a coach by entering my coach ID (sparker@hsv.k12.al.us).

3. Record your student ID and give/email it to me at sparker@hsv.k12.al.us.

4. You’re all set and ready to explore! Click “Watch” or “Practice” at the top of the page. Begin with any topic of interest to you either from the list of topics or from the map. After you complete several problems, you will be directed to review or progress to another suggested topic.

I will be able to view your progress and make suggestions.

Favorite Author's Web Site

Who is your favorite author? Have you ever visited their web site? If so, GOOD JOB! If not, go there NOW! ;) Here are a couple of of links to the top two favorite authors from today.

Rick Riordan

J.K. Rowling

Make sure to read the author's bio and learn about how they come up with their ideas!
Post a link to your favorite author's web site to share with our class too!

Happy READING!

The Stock Market Game

Let the games begin! All students were introduced to the stock market game a couple of weeks ago! They are having so much fun! Here is the link to the site we are using this year. I would love to see some parents start their own accounts too. We have started with practice accounts while we are learning and will be opening up new $100,000.00 accounts to apply all of our new skills soon!

The Stock Market Game

YAHOO Finance

THANK YOU to the following stock market speakers! We learned so much from you!
Mark Roberts and Reid Scott

Kids’ Science Challenge Link

You could create a challenge for a scientist or engineer to solve! Check out this link!
Kids’ Science Challenge Link

This year’s topics are:
ZERO WASTE
The Challenge: Can you invent a package that never ends up in a landfill?

ANIMAL SMARTS
The Challenge: Can you design a toy, game or experiment that enhances the life of a pet or zoo animal and demonstrates its particular intelligence?

MEALS ON MARS
The Challenge: Can you come up with a new way to preserve, cook, deliver or sustainably produce food in flight or on Mars?

The deadline to submit a challenge is February 29, 2012 at 11:59 PM EST. You must submit one Entry Idea, Question or Problem, explaining and/or demonstrating one of the three Scientific Topics below, along with answers to questions explaining how the you developed the idea for the Entry. You may enter in more than one scientific topic, but you must complete and submit a new entry application for each topic.

Girl's Science and Engineering Day-THIS Saturday

Girl's Science and Engineering Day-THIS Saturday

Starts: November 12, 2011 @ 09:30 AM
Ends: November 12, 2011 @ 12:35 AM
Details: Girls' Science & Engineering Day is for girls in the 3rd-5th grades and will be held on Saturday, November 12, 2011 from 9:30 a.m.-12:35 p.m. in the Shelby Center for Science & Technology. The girls will browse an exhibit area then attend four, 40 minute workshops on a variety of topics from living things, to space and rockets, doctors and nurses, stars and planets, experiments, and robots. The cost for the event is $20.00 per girl which includes all workshop materials, snacks, and souvenirs. Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis and space is limited. For more information or to register, visit www.gseduah.com.