It's time to use our brains. :)

October 2016

Dear 4th Grade A2 STEAM Families,

This week we began an exciting new unit in our classrooms! As you might know, in our school we use the teaching method of Project Based Learning, or PBL, to help students learn better. A project motivates students to gain knowledge, and they remember it longer. Projects give students the chance to apply the skills they learn in school to personally relevant and real-world situations. Your child also learns skills in PBL such as how to think critically, solve problems, work in teams, and make presentations. These skills will help students succeed in the future, both in school and in today’s work world.

Our project is based off of the Project Lead the Way curriculum, and is called “Human Brain:  Input and Output”  This project will last through the middle of November.

In this unit, students will learn about:

• Regions of the brain
• Sensory input to the brain
• Impacts of trauma or injury to the brain
• Raising awareness about concussions in everyday life

Our driving question for this project is, “How can we, as students at A2 STEAM, raise awareness and prevent concussions in school aged children?”  They will spend extensive time learning about the brain, the impact of concussions, and ways to raise awareness in both parents and students.  The end result will be three-fold.  They will create a PSA to a specific audience around preventing or determining the symptoms of concussions, a physical model of brain, and a persuasive writing piece about an activity that could lead to a concussion.  All of these will be shown off at our EXPO on November 18th.  

More details will be sent home as we get closer to Expo. We hope you will be able to attend!

As parents, you can support the project by:

• Sending in a video about your prior experience with concussions.  Please email Mrs. Bertelson at bertelson@aaps.k12.mi.us for more information
• Talking with your student about how they can stay safe in their everyday life
• Reading articles about the brain/concussions with your student

E-mails, websites, and newsletters will keep you updated throughout the unit.  If you have any concerns or questions about your child’s project, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Bertelson, Ms. Culver, and Ms. Huntley

4th Grade Teachers at A2 STEAM