Here’s some information about a very cool summer camp that is open to rising 6th, 7th, and 8th grade Charlottesville City School students for the first time this year.
The camp is taught and run by Albemarle County technology and history teachers in partnership with “The Journey Through Hallowed Ground.” According the flyer, students will “canoe the James River, cycle the battlefield at Gettysburg, hike trails at Harpers Ferry, bike the C&O canal towpath, investigate the landscape of Antietam, farm at a freedman’s cabin, and explore James Madison’s Montpelier.” In addition to these awesome field experiences, students will use technology to create videos using video, sound, and photo data they have gathered on their trips.
Those students who complete their Gettysburg Address movies quickly will move on to explore the reactions of both real and imagined eyewitnesses to this historic speech. Students will choose several historical figures and craft statements that could have been made by these people if they had been there to hear the Gettysburg Address. Gettysburg Eyewitnesses
This week, fifth graders had a video conference with museum educators at the Mariners’ Museum in Newport News. It was great! We learned lots of new information about the history and construction of the first ironclad ships to be involved in a naval battle. We also learned about the ongoing excavation of the Monitor’s wreckage off the coast of North Carolina, including the conservation and display of artifacts at the museum. Recently, this investigation has been in the news, as forensic scientists have just completed facial reconstructions of two of the Monitors’ sailors using skeletons discovered in the sunken turret. Next, historians will use these facial reconstructions — and other clues, such as the wedding ring one skeleton wore on his finger! — to determine the sailors’ identities using historical photographs. What an awesome history/science connection! Check out the Mariners’ Museum virtual tour or USS Monitor Center to see some of the artifacts and learn much more.
–Mrs. Gehle
In sixth grade Social Studies classes, students are taking a closer look at the Gettysburg Address by writing their own translations of the speech and finding powerful images that convey its meaning. Ultimately, students will use their tablet computers to create a movie documentary that includes a recitation of the speech, images, and music. Check back later to see some examples posted here once students are finished!
Here’s a different, equally powerful interpretation to inspire you until then:
As an extension to this discussion, the Washington Post published an interesting article today reminding us that textbook knowledge does change with new scientific discovery and new ways of thinking. Could be an interesting dinner table discussion…
Walker is proud to announce that 9 fifth grade students will have their poetry displayed on Charlottesville Area Transit Buses. Each poem will be featured on 2 buses and a copy of each poem will be given to the University of Virginia’s Special Collections library.
This year’s theme was Charlottesville Then and Now. These students researched Charlottesville’s past through websites and photographs and turned their research into poetry. Each will be given the opportunity to read their poetry on March 21 at the Downtown Transit Center as part of Virginia’s Festival of the Book.
Congratulations to Adam, Cole, Evelyn, Josh, Lena, Sam, Shahad, Talia and Wayt!
This week, sixth grade students stayed in Constitutional Convention delegate character and created their own radio shows to inform the 1787 American public about the new government and encourage states to ratify.
Fifth grade students are studying erosion and weathering in science. Some students will be creating an iMovie showing the effects of weathering and erosion around Walker. Taking advantage of today’s gorgeous weather some students set out with digital cameras to capture examples of weathering and erosion around our campus.
Over the course of the week students will review their pictures and the notes they took to write a script. They will then enter the production phase of the project as they put media and words together to help others understand weathering and erosion.
Last week, Walker sixth grade students reenacted the 1787 Constitutional Convention. Each student took on the role of a delegate and spent two days working with fellow state delegates to research their personal background and political views, as well as some of the issues of the day. We then spent two days learning about the events of the Philadelphia convention and reenacting some of the debates and compromises. History is so much more meaningful — and challenging — when students can step into the shoes of real people of the past. It was great!
–Mrs. Gehle
Fifth grade students are studying the Declaration of Independence and taking on the challenge of rewriting the 18th Century language to be understandable by young students today. Some students are using a new online resource called Little Bird Tales to publish and illustrate their own version of the Declaration of Independence. We think this would be a fun way to enjoy writing other stories and poetry as well, so try it out!
Here are twoexamples of student work for you to read.
–Mrs. Gehle
At Walker Upper Elementary School, our Quest (Gifted) Program uses a collaborative model. This means that Gifted Specialists work with classroom teachers to make sure that high-ability learners' needs are met within the regular classroom setting. We'll use this website to show you some of the ways that Walker teachers are meeting the needs of Quest students every day.
Here’s some information about a very cool summer camp that is open to rising 6th, 7th, and 8th grade Charlottesville City School students for the first time this year.
