Oceans01+Introduction

=Ocean Odyssey Week 1: Introduction=

 

Goals:

 * Introduce the topic/goals to the students
 * Make sure everyone knows each others' names
 * Set the stage for ocean study
 * Start to get to know LEGO vocabulary
 * Free build/craft around ocean theme

Set up/resources needed:
Name tags or button blanks Bag of different types of LEGO's -- each bag with the same pieces, 1 bag per pair Ocean craft -- wax crayons/water/paint brushes/blue paint (tempera) - best with sparkles! Boxes of LEGOs. Snack

**Team tips**
Make sure all kids and all parents know each others' names. Names are an extremely important part of team building. Start out by making name buttons or coloring name tags, introduce each other by their name and something about themselves.

Writing out the agenda lets everyone know what's coming and how to pace themselves. Be aware of those who aren't strong readers yet.

Everyone has different learning styles: auditory, kinesthetic, visual. Any time you can present things in all different modalities, the students will be more engaged and learn more.

The first few weeks will be team norming -- setting expectations, working through communication differences, getting to know each other. Move students around in smaller groups to work with each other, help them with communication tools, set them up for success... Life skills are a big part of this process.

Agenda


Write out agenda on the easel so kids know what's coming and they can pace themselves

As families come in, color a name button/name tag for everyone (adults included!)
 * Get to know each other:**
 * Buttons: picture of LEGO's, ocean items, robots or their own design -- but make names big enough to read -- these buttons will stay at the meeting place and they'll get them each time and take them off when the session's over

What our goal is in 10 weeks: We'll decide team names, what to build. Display at a JrFLL Open House on Aug 25, 2012.
 * Introduction:**
 * Show base plate and "show me" display board. (See photo of base plate here: Ocean Odyssey for Teams )

Brainstorm oceans (& zones) on the big white board -- what types of things do they know about each area and what things live there. The visual, auditory parts appeal to more. Reduce amount of reading if any students are young enough to make reading not easy. Discuss zones/topics being discussed in the next 10 weeks.
 * Intro to oceans:**

[] Watch the first 5 minutes with no sound and slowing things down to talk about what's there...
 * Watch video:**

[]
 * Talk through photos:**


 * Intro to LEGO pieces**
 * In pairs, pass out bags of similar pieces
 * Have students sort them all into types -- how do they do it?
 * Some of ours used color, function, strange definitions!
 * Scavenger hunt -- look for specific pieces by name -- try adding it to another piece
 * Build something as a pair with these pieces to see how they go together -- can they put every piece together?





AD & LS: The Working Mansion RD & CH: The Masher JW &NC: The Boat Grabber MM & EL: Catapult house LH & GM: Diving Board of Death JJ & ZS: Fast Zip Al 10,000 AJ & DM: Sea Watcher
 * What they built:**




 * SNACK**


 * Divide out -- can do one or the other or both...**

-- An ocean craft (paint/wax crayons/blue tempera)

-- Build ocean scene free-build with LEGO's...



When they run out of sit patience -- turn in name button in -- and tell one thing that they learned or liked about today's class -- that gets written on the white board.
 * Wrap up**

W**hat they learned or the favorite part of Week 1**

MM: I liked building with LEGOs. JW: My favorite thing? Building with LEGOs, of course! GM: I learned building with LEGOs was even more fun than I thought. LH: Building with LEGOs. JJ: I learned that the ocean was way bigger than I thought. ZS: Everybody's name RD: Names of LEGO parts NC: I learned how to make ships today. CH: I learned how to make inventions today. AD: My favorite part was the crafts. AJ: Building the Sea Watcher LS: The different names of the LEGOs. DM: Building the Sea Watcher


 * Clean up**