Emerson Stories
LORDS AND LADIES Each year in the spring, the great hall of Emerson (the library transformed!) resounds with medieval merriment – a maypole dance, a show of swords, a feast worthy of kings. Arthur himself raises a goblet on high. Merlin and Eleanor of Aquitaine attend. Who ARE these notable figures of the age? None other than Rob Bauman's 4th grade class who make olden days come alive by researching their characters and making costumes, pennants, shields, and tableware.
8TH GRADERS GET THEIR FEET WET
Up close and wet - THAT'S the way to study a coral reef! 8th graders explore the clear waters of Marathon Key, Florida on a class trip. They snorkel for science - and have a boatload of fun.
"PLAY WELL!"
Did you know "Lego" is Danish for "play well?" Did you know that you can design, build, and program a Lego robot using techniques practiced in the real world of science and engineering? A 3-student team from Emerson knows. Their Lego robot pulled away from the local competition. It was strong enough to tote their trophy.
4
TH GRADERS CELEBRATE UNUSUAL MILESTONE
The running tally on the black board in Rob Bauman’s 4th grade class tells the story – Rob makes mistakes! And when he makes 100 of them, it’s time for a quick celebration complete with cake and a round of “Happy 100th Mistake To You.” Everybody’s happy.
And everybody’s learning – that in a pressure-to-be-perfect world, luckily no one is; that it’s okay to take risks, try new things, make mistakes; that Rob’s classroom is safe and supportive. And extra points for a bonus benefit: students listen more closely to catch mistakes… and have a party!
BUDDIES WITH BOOKS
"Books are fun" - pass it on! After lunch the Library is quietly abuzz with buddies. Pairs of kindergarteners and 5th graders settle into nooks and crannies and share the words and pictures on the pages. Welcome to the Library.
M
ONARCH-Y AT EMERSON - BUTTERFLIES
Sue Addy's fifth graders are a part of Monarch Watch, a hands-on project spearheaded by the University of Kansas Entomology Program. They tag each butterfly's hindwing with an encrypted message on a tiny sticker and send data to Monarch Watch. Monarch migration is tracked on a scaled map in the classroom.
Monarchs migrate to Mexico, a journey of almost 2,000 miles. These particular winged beauties carry the best wishes of Emerson's fifth graders.