SAVY Category
Summer SAVY 2017, Session 2/Day 1- Data Discoverers (Rising 2nd/3rd)
Jun. 19, 2017—Good afternoon! We had a great start to our week, getting to know each other through some team-building activities. It was exciting to see the level of enthusiasm and cooperation the students displayed today! We began our exploration into the research process through the context of a “Consumer Reports for Kids/Zillions” study. Your young mathematical...
Summer SAVY 2017, Session 2/Day 1- Robotic Programming (Rising 2nd/3rd)
Jun. 19, 2017—Greetings! We had such a busy and fun day today! We started with some “getting to know you” activities. It was great to get to know the kids better and for them to see what they have in common! Next, we went over the engineering process and how that can be a complicated process. We...
Summer SAVY 2017, Session 2/Day 1- Survive and Thrive (Rising 1st)
Jun. 19, 2017—Happy First Day! Our Survive and Thrive class is digging into a life science unit on animals, their characteristics, and their environments. They were pre-assessed on their prior knowledge of the generalizations involving “change” by completing a concept map. They explored what it means to be a “scientist” and created a list of safety rules...
Summer SAVY 2017, Session 2/Day 1- Playing with Words (Rising 1st)
Jun. 19, 2017—These amazing authors are off to a strong start playing with words. As we investigate figurative language, we have already begun exploring adjectives, hyperbole, alliteration and idioms. Figurative language appeals to the senses. Creative writers have an awareness, curiosity and wonder as they use words to create sensory images of ordinary things. We analyzed various...
Summer SAVY 2017, Session 1/Day 4- Biology of the Brain (Rising 6th/7th)
Jun. 15, 2017—Everyone agreed that the day went by way too fast today in Biology of the Brain! The students learned about the major neurotransmitters that are released in our brain when we are happy, sad, stressed out, scared, or exercising. We took a tour to the Neurochemistry Core Labs at Vanderbilt to learn about how scientists...
Summer SAVY 2017, Session 1/Day 4- Rebels and Revolutionaries (Rising 6th/7th)
Jun. 15, 2017—The American Revolution continued this morning with the action of the war. As we continue to think like historians, today we focused on the importance of including different perspectives when we think about history. First, we learned about the first phase of the American Revolution in New England and the turning point for the Americans...
Summer SAVY 2017, Session 1/Day 4- Introduction to Law (Rising 6th/7th)
Jun. 15, 2017—Students finished their mock trials pertaining to intentional torts this morning! Students greatly enjoyed the experience of participating in a trial, and it provides beneficial experience for them, so the next major assignment was another final mock trial. This one was based on a hypothetical created by me. The hypo involved various instances of negligence...
Summer SAVY 2017, Session 1/Day 4- Puzzles and Problem Solving (Rising 4th/5th)
Jun. 15, 2017—I was so impressed with the students’ work on the Pirate Problem this morning! This is a problem that my (much!) older students often struggle with, and this class just tackled the issues head on and found a solution. It was amazing to see their enthusiasm as they neared the answer and weren’t ready to...
Summer SAVY 2017, Session 1/Day 4- Industrial Microbiology (Rising 4th/5th)
Jun. 15, 2017—Hello students and parents! Only one day left… 
The kids have really impressed me today. We played a short review game about industrial microbiology and they aced it! They remembered everything we went over and were able to explain it better then most college students! You should be very proud of them. Today we...
Summer SAVY 2017, Session 1/Day 4- Mirror of Mythology (Rising 2nd/3rd, Mrs. Byrd)
Jun. 15, 2017—Dear SAVY Parents! Today we really took on a tough topic within Greek mythology: Hero or Monster? Fanged, snake tailed, fire breathing, one-eyed, multi-headed, horned, scaly, slimy… well, you get the picture. While we learned about some really terrifying creatures (yes, there were times we thought we might have to hold hands for comfort and...