Summer SAVY, Session 1 Day 2, Cryptology Sect.2 (3rd – 4th)
It was an amazing day of learning and growing! Those sneaky costumed animals! We are learning more and more with each page we decode. The multiple-meaning words, puns, and idioms are adding so much to our understanding of the language of the book. There were quite a few surprises today; students began to discover that some of our clues may, in fact, be red herrings! Our predictions keep changing, so we are encouraging them to defend their choices with evidence from the text rather than just hunches.
During the history minute, we looked at how codes were used in the Revolutionary War to protect secrets and communicate through spies like Nathan Hale and Lydia Darragh.
Today’s math focus was Roman Numerals, and we discovered that similar to the Egyptians, this number system does not use place value. It does, however, matter where you PLACE the numerals. We played whiteboard games to stay engaged in the lesson. We practiced in game stations like Roman Numeral Bingo and War. Can you think of some current uses and examples of where we still see and need to know how to decipher the Roman Numeral system? Talk to your students about where this is used in daily life.
It was a great day of learning! The kids reported that Roman Numerals, the book codes, and the quote from Julius Caesar really challenged their thinking most. I also learned through our go-noodle brain breaks that some of our friends can bust a move!
For extra enrichment, go on a scavenger hunt in a store or your home to find Roman Numerals and decode them! Many of the kids have been asking about sequels to this book, so I encourage you to check out his The Jewel Fish of Karnak, which is full of hieroglyphics and great fun!
*Don’t forget to send a healthy peanut-free snack and a water bottle for the day along with their lunch. You might want to also send a sweatshirt or light jacket. The AC can be cold after being outside!