February ACE Week Engages Students in Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Paleontology

February 24-28 was ACE Week at French International with 95 students participating in various activities.

The themes were different depending on the age group. The TPS and preschool/pre-k ACE Week theme was animal science and art. The students learned about animals from all over the world. They went on a safari in the gym, looking for lions, giraffes, and zebras. They dressed as penguins and did parkour while protecting their penguin egg. They brought pictures of their pets or an animal they loved and shared them with the class.

The kindergarten/first-grade group and the fourth through eighth-grade group theme was fun with physics. The groups had separate camps and did activities unique to their age and skill level. The kindergarten and first graders learned about space and created outer space art. They made Rube Goldberg machines using tubes, marbles, dominos, and special kids.

The older group also had fun with physics. They did an experiment with different colored water using paper towels to move it into different cups and watch it change color. They studied Leonardo da Vinci and his work in science and engineering and made catapults. They also made Rube Goldberg machines with complex configurations to complete simple tasks.

The final group was the second and third graders, who studied paleontology. Their exploration and discovery this week included learning about dinosaurs by doing puzzles and artwork. Students created and then dug up their own fossils, assembled 3-D dinosaur skeletons,and made dinosaur terrariums.

Through all of the departments of our school, we have the same mission to educate curious and critical thinkers. Our Extended Learning team was intentional about the learning and discovery happening in the classrooms this week to give students the opportunity to inquire, explore, and grow.