Google Earth Mesmerizes Mitchellville Students

Combine an Internet connection, Google Earth, and student imaginations, and the buzz begins. Google Earth mesmerizes Mitchellville students as they travel the world through a virtual globe and view satellite imagery, maps, terrain, 3D buildings, and much more. With Google Earth's rich geographical content, students experience a more realistic view of their world and beyond.

5th grade students virtually visited addresses such as 1400 Defense Pentagon, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, and 308 Elm Avenue NW to find a bird's-eye view of buildings such as the Pentagon, the White House, and Mitchellville Elementary School. These engaged students measured the roof of each and proceeded to find each building's perimeter and area.

4th grade is using Google Earth on the MacBook laptops as they visit landmarks of the various regions on the United States. Most recently this included a Yellowstone scavenger hunt (using the site http://www.nps.gov/yell/forkids/scavengerhunt.htm) followed with exploring the landscape of Yellowstone National Park using Google Earth.

These are just two of the many technology-infused activities that are happening at Mitchellville. Classes are utilizing 21st Century technologies such as interactive white boards, laptops, iPads, blogs, wikis, web sites, and Google Apps to create interactive and collaborative classroom opportunities.

Mitchellville Expands Learning with eBooks

We are very proud of our libraries! And NOW they are expanded outside of the walls of the school building. Your child has access to eBooks 24/7 through various resources. Please check with your teacher librarian if your child does not know his/her username password for these electronic resources.

Among the resources available are:

Follett eBooks - available through our local library system. Search ALL LIBRARIES for "ebook"
"Follett eBooks open up new possibilities for learning. They can turn a laptop into a library, an interactive whiteboard into an instrument for deeper understanding and a single book into a shared learning experience. eBooks engage students in reading and comprehension exercises, boost their interest in new topics, and provide real life examples of lessons, both in the library and the classroom."

BookFlix
"Scholastic BookFlix is an online literacy resource that pairs classic video storybooks from Weston Woods with related nonfiction eBooks from Scholastic to build a love of reading and learning. The engaging way to link fact and fiction, BookFlix reinforces early reading skills and introduces children to a world of knowledge and exploration."

TrueFlix
"TrueFlix is an online resource that combines award-winning True Books content with reading supports and a deep and diverse collection of related videos, images, Web links, and text."

StarFall
A free public service to teach children to read with phonics. The systematic approach, in conjunction with phonemic awareness practice, is good for preschool through second grade children.

Mitchellville Students Learn with Blogs

Reflecting upon our work and journaling improve both understanding of concepts and writing skills. Combine this with the "web" and you get web-logs, better known as BLOGS. Mitchellville 2nd grade teachers and students were the first to embark upon the blogging experience. Students in 2nd-5th grade are collaborating using blogs to discuss topics in every content area. Students are self-motivated as they continue to improve both the editing and quality of their writing.

One student, when reflecting upon "If Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was alive today, what would his speech be about?" wrote, "If Martin L King Jr. were here today, I think his speech would be about the people who don't have jobs. I think he would force Congress to give people jobs...."

Another student, when reflecting upon, "What is a hero?" wrote, "A hero is someone that protects you. A hero is someone that gives you freedom. A hero is someone that fights for you. A hero is someone that gives you shelter. A hero is someone who you need to respect."

Blogs give every student an equal opportunity to communicate and build confidence with a wider audience in the teacher-controlled environment of www.kidblog.org. They also give students greater opportunities for positive feedback on their writing while teaching them to become digital citizens of good character.

TechTastic @ Mitchellville Elementary

As a model of effective teaching strategies, Mitchellville continues to pilot the use of innovative and engaging technology integrated into the core teaching standards to improve student performance. This includes a goal of 1:1 iPads (K-3) and laptops (4-5) along with intensive staff development sessions. Please watch the video and read the letter as you consider donating to our future.

Click here to read the letter.

Mitchellville Competes in 2011 First LEGO League Food Factor Competition

Seven students from Mitchellville Elementary participated in the 2011 First LEGO League Food Factor competition. The event utilizes friendly competition to emphasize the importance of teamwork. It’s a competition that makes participants think and collaboratively work in teams together! The students had only two and a half minutes to manipulate the robot they had constructed and programmed through various maneuvers to earn as many points as possible. During the research phase of the program, the students learned all they could about eggs and developed an innovative way to make them safer. Way to go, Eggscellent Thinkers!