A Day in History

Students in Mrs. Phares' classroom have been experimenting with Green Screen Technology.  Their latest assignment was to choose a day in history and green screen themselves into a photo of the event. Their assignment also included a written section where they described the event and why they would be interested in being there.

The students are now working on Green Screen videos! 

FX Goes on Vacation

Students in Mrs. Phares' computer class have started their multi-media projects.  Their first project involved working with a green screen.  Green screen technology is the basis of the effects seen in everything from the latest Hollywood blockbusters to the weather forecast. The idea is simple. If you shoot a video or still shot with a single colored backdrop   your photo editor makes that color become transparent.  We used a green screen.  Once the background is transparent you can replace it with another still image or video clip.  


Their first assignment was to take themselves on vacation.  They were told they could go anywhere in the universe.  Mrs. Phares was very pleased with the results of the first project and is expecting their skills to grow with their next project. 

| Learn About Mixbook Photo Books | Create your own Photo Book

Google Sketch UP

Students in Mrs. Phares' computer applications class are busy finishing up their Google Sketch Up projects.   Google SketchUp is a modeling software that empowers students to be 3D designers.

SketchUp is a great tool for easily teaching students to construct 3D models of buildings, trees, cars, and the like. We can use it as a stand-alone tool, or in conjunction with Google Earth and the 3D Warehouse.

Google Sketch Up is free and can be downloaded here.  Students have enjoyed working on this powerful program and we would like to encourage you to have them continue their learning on their own.  

Take a look at a few samples of projects made in Sketch Up.

This house was designed by Cameron M. 

This Bedroom was designed by Aaron S.

This house was designed by Tasha W

Mrs. Phares is proud of all of the students and their accomplishments.  They are beginning their journey into multi-media and will have some great projects to share very soon. 

Scratch

I'm so excited to share with you the activities of the FX students in the computer lab.  For the past several weeks we have been studying computer programming.  Using a free program called Scratch the students have discovered a  programming language that makes it easy to create their own interactive stories, animations, games, music, and art. I believe that as my students created these projects they were learning important mathematical and computational ideas, while also learning to think creatively, reason systematically, and work collaboratively. Plus, having fun! 


We began our studies by going through several Scratch Challenges.  These challenges were designed by Scratch to scaffold students learning of the basic concepts of Scratch.  My original plan included walking them through several other steps of Scratch, however, once my students had the basic concepts down, they soared! 


Take a look at a few samples.  


This is a game designed by Sara Butts and Stephanie Schumacher called "Lemons Adventure" 

Next is an interactive story from Brianna Giles. It is so interactive she had to include a map! 

This is an interactive message from Sara Specht.

Honestly, I wish I had time and space to share with you all 136 of my students creations.  They would amaze you.  I would encourage you to ask your son/daughter to show you their Scratch project soon.  Remind them they have all uploaded them to  their It's Learning page. 


Would you like to learn Scratch?  It's not just for kids!  You can download the free program here.  You will find some great tutorials here. 

It's Interim Time

(All Photos taken by FX Photographer Tera Cooper)

Your favorite FX student should be bringing home their Interim reports today.  We believe that cooperation between home and school is the key to success! This report is to show you the progress of your son/daughter while there is still time for improvement. 

The FX faculty will be available for parent conferences on Thursday evening, February 16. If you would like to schedule an appointment with team of teachers who work with your son or daughter please call 513-867-7425 ext. 2139.

Mr. Holland

Mr. Holland's classes performed monologues on the stage in the auditorium as they prepare to study drama.  The best performances from each class will be voted on by fellow students and awards will be given out next week.  We have very talented students! 

Mrs. Rees

Ratio and proportion are important applications of Geometry.  In Mrs. Rees’ geometry classes, students made the connection between algebraic and geometric uses of these ideas, which included investigating scale models and making scale drawings. 

 

The properties of ratio and proportion will be used to study similarity in the coming weeks.  Students can look forward to learning about similarity in triangles through the use of Online Active Math  and Geometer’s Sketch Pad technologies.  They will also learn about indirect measurement with similar triangles by completing an investigation first with mirrors, then with their own shadow (weather permitting).

Mr. Boyle

Honors Geometry will be creating house plans for specific lots in Trenton, Ohio.  Students will have to follow city planning codes/regulations.  Students will give presentations throughout the project, create informative videos and a project group website along with creating 3-D representations using Google SketchUp.

A final presentation will be made at the end of the project (date TBA).

Trenton's City Manager John Jones and Zoning Director Bill Jones will be "expert" resources throughout the project along with the Quandrel Group, led by Nate Minnich-Weber & Todd Clevinger (currently building the new high school).

Mrs. Phares


Students in Mrs. Phares' class have been working with the program Scratch.  

Scratch is a programming language that makes it easy to create our own interactive stories, animations, games, music, and art. As our FX students create and share Scratch projects, they learn important mathematical and computational ideas, while also learning to think creatively, reason systematically, and work collaboratively. Next week we will begin to design our own video games.   It's an exciting time to be a student in the Edgewood FX!

maps

EHS FX House Project
Honors Geometry will be creating house plans for specific lots in Trenton, Ohio.  Students will have to follow city planning codes/regulations.  Students will give presentations throughout the project, create informative videos and a project group website along with creating 3-D representations using Google SketchUp.


Trenton's City Manager John Jones and Zoning Director Bill Jones will be "expert" resources throughout the project along with the Quandrel Group, led by Nate Minnich-Weber & Todd Clevinger (currently building the new high school)

MAPS
Students in Mrs. Phares' computer applications classroom have been exploring the truly amazing capabilities of Google Maps. One thing they discovered was the ability to make their own tours. To show their understanding students were asked to design a tour of 15 places that were related. The interesting thing was how the personality of the students started to shine through these projects.





  Lauren Enderle choose 15 warm and sunny beaches. 
View LaurenEnderle4 FINISHED in a larger map

  We will visit 16 places that Alyssa Davis' favorite country music stars live. 

View Alyssa Davis. in a larger map


Kaitlyn Specht shares her memories of a precious family vacation.

Robert Jones designed a Google Map tour that displays interesting facts and history about trains.

View Robert Jones's 6th period map exploration in a larger map

Ask your student to show you their map.  Showing you care will mean so much to them.



View Kaitlyn Specht 6 in a larger map

January 20, 2012

An Amazing Week of Learning

The Edgewood chapter of the FCCLA ( Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America) sponsored a Real Money/Real World event.  Real financial/life simulation for our FX students.  After months of planning Mrs. Gregory and the event student coordinators presented a incredible successful day.  

The program gave students a real life scenario, where they had to budget and maintain a household with an assigned income. Students were given (by a random drawing) a career/job, an income and a predetermined household with dependents.

With the generous help of local businesses and volunteers our students saw how an occupation affects income, how to budget and how finances can quickly deplete when paying for the necessities of life.

Senior reporter Kyle Grand reported on the event throughout the day on the Edgewood City Schools  facebook page.   

Enjoy the photos that FX student photographer Alex Leonard took throughout the day. 

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Odyssey and Romeo and Juliet

Good books are always a pleasure to read; however there is something about a cup of hot chocolate, a cold winters day and a good book. The Edgewood FX Language Arts teachers believe that reading and literacy skills provide students with the keys to lifelong learning. The more students read, the better readers they will become. Every effort should be made both at school and at home to get students to do as much reading as possible. Our classes are diving into the classics. Mr. Pierce's classes are reading Romeo and Juliet and Mr. Holland's classes are finishing up The Odyssey.

We know that these books are not light reading.  These are classic novels.  Many times they are not easy to follow.  However, we feel it is important in the development of a young persons mind.

There is help. The web site  Shmoop is the first place we would go. In their words "Shmoop will make you a better lover (of literature, history, life)." When you take a minute to look around Shmoop, you will be simply delighted! These are not your "Mothers Literature Guides"...Shmoop makes learning and writing more fun and relevant for students in the digital age.   Both Romeo and Juliet and The Odyssey have literature guides on Shmoop.


Mr. Holland has used the web site Quizlet to design online flashcards  for an upcoming quiz.  



http://quizlet.com/6551301/odyssey-flash-cards/

Choose a Study ModeScatterLearnFlashcards

Study these flash cards | Study english flash cards

So, now the question is, how are you going to encourage your son or daughter to read?  If you have any ideas, please share them in the comment box below. 

Happy 2012

Happy New Year and Welcome back to School!  With the new year comes a new semester.  Your son/daughters scheduled should  basically be the same with the exceptions of their semester classes. (Computer, PE, Art)

Have you seen the Edgewoood City Schools Facebook page? It's easy to keep up to date with the exciting things that are going on! http://www.facebook.com/EdgewoodSchools

Are you following the FX on twitter?  @ehsfx  A great way to stay up to date!

The computer classes have rolled out a new Learning Platform called "It's Learning."  The platform is specifically designed to support student-centered learning with extensive project support, individual learning plans, and a full set of multimedia tools for students to use to carry out their education plans.  Each student has already set up an online ePortfolio and an individual blog.  Our next step is to get our parents accounts so you can become involved in the process.  It is a very exciting time in the computer lab! 

Good Luck to our Freshmen winter athletes.  We understand how difficult it is to keep your grades high and your sports schedule a priority.   If you need extra help, please let us know!