Monday, May 17, 2010
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Day 7 - Disney Marketplace/Disney Quest/Heading Home
OUR LAST DAY!!! We are all exhausted! We need a vacation after this trip! We woke up, packed our belongings, put them in storage, and headed to Disney Marketplace for last minute shopping and to Disney Quest for last minute adventure! After a beautiful morning, we met at the hotel and headed to the airport on two buses. We had a magical experience in Disney and are very happy to have had such a successful trip! Thank you to Mrs. Herbert, all of our chaperones, and the students for making this trip such a success! The students impressed the Y.E.S. coordinators with their wealth of prior knowledge and critical thinking skills. Thanks again! Even though I am a true fan of Disney, I agree with Dorothy...there is no place like home!!
Friday, April 30, 2010
Day 6 - Everyday Chemistry Workshop
On Friday, April 30, the students were chemists at EPCOT, working in hands-on activities in the Everyday Chemistry workshop. The students created polymers, made goop, and discovered how our natural resources, like fossil fuels, become things that we use today like plastics. It is all a product of chemical reactions. Students developed a greater depth of this knowledge by participating in the hands-on activities and riding on Ellen's Energy Adventure. Students also got to ride on Test-Track, a high speed vehicle simulation in which our young scientists got to test out the importance of safety precautions for vehicles. Did you know that Test Track is actually the fastest and longest ride inside the parks of Walt Disney World?!? Students also interviewed their country ambassador for their country Power Point presentations. Several students took pictures in their country and uploaded the pictures and questions to their Power Point presentations. Students discovered the wonders, architectural styles, and culture of all of the countries showcased at EPCOT! We traveled "around the world" in a day!
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Day 5 - The American Story Workshop
On Thursday, April 29, the students were engulfed in the rich and amazing history of our country. After learning about some important historical information on some of our past Presidents and founders, the students walked across the stage of the Hall of Presidents and viewed in awe what it would be like to be in a room with our nation's 43 past Presidents and the current 44th President of the United States. Last year, our students did not get to view this because they were creating the figure of President Obama. Students also rang the Liberty Bell and signed a copy of the "Declaration of Independence". The students developed a deeper understanding of the conflicts and resolutions that occurred in our nation to help establish the free country that we enjoy today. They also became pioneers on the frontier by bartering cards of goods in order to survive and then enjoyed riding Splash Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. The students looked great in their American flag tie dyes as they rang the Liberty Bell and signed the "Declaration of Independence."
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Day 4 - Animal Kingdom
On Wednesday, our students went to Animal Kingdom and explored their wild side as they went on a safari adventure tracking down their Glog research project animals! Many children were successful in finding their animals, while some must have went at the time of their animal's siesta or their animal was camera shy! Students also traveled back in time on Dinosaur to try to capture the last dinosaur. The students marveled at the Tree of Life and enjoyed the 4-D show of "A Bug's Life" in the trunk of the tree. Those who dared rode Expedition Everest and Kali River Rapids. On Kali River Rapids, I got drenched from head to toe!! I had to buy a towel!! After Animal Kingdom, students were allowed to continue their adventures at Magic Kingdom or Hollywood Studios to finish up any attractions they had not finished. Many students finished up their evening with the Wishes firework display. Tinkerbell flew right over my head! The perfect end to a magical day!
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Day 3 - Energy and Waves Workshop Day
On Tuesday, students got to experience the Magic Kingdom Park through the mind of a theme park scientist in the Energy and Waves Workshop. Students learned about sound waves by using slinky toys, a tuning fork, and riding Stitch's Great Escape. The students participated in this interactive adventure that showcased the physics concepts of optics, acoustics, and magnetism in a real-world setting. They discovered how the ghosts of Haunted Mansion work by using reflection, scrim, and animatronics. They went underneath the ride where only V.I.P. guests, not R.I.P. guests, get to witness the magic! The workshop culminated with Philharmagic- which is a 3-D adventure that truly shows how sound and light waves make a masterpiece! Students then traveled to Hollywood Studios to learn how Disney creates their masterpieces and ride on exciting rides, such as Rock-n-Roller Coaster and Tower of Terror.
Monday, April 26, 2010
Day 2- Properties of Motion Workshop Day
On Monday, students got a wake up call at 5:15 a.m. by Mrs. Suazo (me) in order to have breakfast at 6:00 and make it to the Properties of Motion Workshop scheduled for 7:15 a.m. at Magic Kingdom. Everyone looked so excited and happy to see me when I knocked on their doors. Properties of Motion is a workshop that casts students in the role as scientists as they explore the physics concept of mechanics. The students learned about potential and kinetic energy, forces, motion, and gravity in hands on activities and then on selected Magic Kingdom attractions. A highlight for the children was going on Space Mountain with the lights on!!! After the workshop, the students spent the day touring Magic Kingdom with their friends and chaperones!
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Day 1- Arrive in Disney and go to Disney Quest
On the first day in Disney, students spent their afternoon and evening at Disney Quest. This interactive and virtual arcade provided tons of fun activities for our fourth graders, parents, and siblings that attended. Students got to design and then ride a simulated roller coaster that they created. Roller coasters were rated on their "danger levels" from levels 1-5. Many of our students successfully created and then rode a level 5 coaster!! It was a favorite at Disney Quest. Students also loved doing the animation class and were taught how to draw one of the Disney characters!
Metairie Academy students travel to Disney during Spring Break for the Y.E.S. program!
Half of our fourth grade students, along with Mrs. Herbert, Mrs. Suazo, and many parents and family members, spent April 25-May 1, 2010 in Walt Disney World to participate in the Youth Education Series Program (Y.E.S.) during their Spring Break. The workshops tied in with the fourth grade curriculum in a hands-on, exciting, and magical way!
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