"Pop-the-Balloon-on-the-Pin-in-the-Hat" Game

Yesterday in Advisory we played the pop the balloon game. It was fun, it built teamwork, and we made a lot of noise. The balloon is popped on a straight pin taped onto the bill of a baseball hat. Watch and enjoy this video:


Mr. Wiemers
http://mrwiemersshop.com

Eric Voelker, MS SS Blog

Here is one of the first teachers in our middle school to use a blog in the classroom for both instruction of students and interaction between students. The teacher, Eric Voelker (two time NCAA national wrestling champion for Iowa State University and Hall of Famer), is using this blog in his social studies class. He is also experimenting with video recording of students making comments and explaining their learning and playing the best back on the the "big screen." I can foresee an awards ceremony with Oscar awards for the best presentation, best supporting student, best research, and, of course, best online blog comments in this seventh grade social studies class. Mr. Voelker is on the point of the spear in technology at Dallas-Center Grimes!

Mr. Voelker's Social Studies Classroom Blog

Mr. Wiemers
http://mrwiemersshop.com

Unbelievable PE Teacher Video

Click on this link to watch a PE teacher's amazing hand eye coordination and strategic use of angles combined with good luck and a whole lot of extra time:

http://www.snotr.com/embed/612

Mr. Wiemers
http://mrwiemersshop.com

Test Tube Trays for Sixth Grade Science

This morning during first period Mr. Gilroy, the sixth grade science teacher, came into the shop with an old wooden test tube holder. He wanted to put something together from some scrap wood to make a few more holders for his class by tomorrow. We looked around at the wood and talked about some options then we decided I would cut some of the scrap oak up, drill some holes and make him about twelve new test tube trays.

I enjoy this kind of project so during the day, as time allowed, I resawed some 3/4 inch oak, cut the tops and bottoms to length, marked out the holes and did some drilling. By lunch time I began to assemble the trays.

When my advisory class came in for their 25 minute class, I had them assemble the remaining trays, quickly sand them all and begin applying a coat of polyurethane. At the end of the day I put a second coat of polyurethane on. Tomorrow morning I will polish them up and then take twelve new test tube trays down to my friend and excellent teacher, Chad Gilroy.

Mr. Wiemers
http://mrwiemersshop.com/

Mr. Klocke's Science Resources

One of the most active web pages at the DCG middle school is Mr. Klocke's website page called "Class Notes, Review and Practice, Powerpoints, and lesson plans, and gizmos." Any middle school science teacher in America, or around the world, will want to check this site out. The current technology revolution brings Mr. Klocke's insight into science and his gift of communicating with students right to your computer. Mr. Klocke is renown for his ability to make a vigorous science curriculum palatable for each and every student. His notes, reviews, powerpoints and more are now available for any teacher or middle school student who has access to the Internet.

At this week's inservice Mr. Klocke shared these two websites with the staff that most teachers will find useful:

• quizlet.com
• studystack.com
  

Mr. Wiemers
http://mrwiemersshop.com/