Veronica Edmond

Today was my last day with SOAR at Parson Hills this semester. Today, everyone stayed inside during recess so group 5 stayed in their usual classroom. They played indoor games such as legos, card games, matching games, and more. Then, they switched over to their learning portion and played a math game. During the game, they were split into three different teams and given a math equation. Then, they wrote their answer down using shaving cream on a plate. After, they went to dinner and afternoon show. During afternoon show, they had another student from another group helping with announcements and speaking. This reflected a great example for the higher grades (3,4,5) who are getting ready for amazing shake and aim to gain those public speaking skills. After, everyone split into their groups for flex. Group 5 continued reading their book "Holes" as a class. After, everyone was dismissed.

Today with SOAR at Parson Hills, the students stayed inside during their daily scheduled recess/free play time due to the cold weather. Group 5 and 6 went to the gym and played dodge ball within that time and went against each other. After, group 5 went to their assigned room where they completed a team exercise. They collaborated and worked as a group to build a certain object given to them such as a spaceship and a car. After each group built theirs, the three groups went one-by-one and presented their object to the class. They explained their structure and how they made it. This activity was a good way of helping them with the Amazing Shake event they having upcoming by helping them develop those skills of elaborating and further explaining something they did. After, they went to dinner, had afternoon show, and then went back into groups for FLEX (reading) time where they continued reading their book "Holes" in groups. After, they were dismissed to go home.

Today at SOAR, the students followed the same daily routine they have every Monday. They started by playing outside and I along with Group Four's Leader Jaden went to a specific zone on the playground to monitor the students. After, group 4 went into the library classroom where they conducted a science experiment referencing the idea of how we get rain. Each group had a cup full of water, poured shaving cream on top of the water, and put drops of food coloring on top of the shaving cream in order for there to be "rain drops". The students then reflected back on the experiment and explained in their own terms what the experiment represented. Then, the group went to dinner and FLEX time where they read the book "Holes" as a whole class. In the middle of FLEX, all of soar had a fire drill to complete. Group 4 did a good job of staying quiet and following directions given. Afterwards, we went back and ready the book together for a little while and then it was dismissal time and I was able to walk the class down to the cafeteria for dismissal.

Today at SOAR, the students and leaders followed the same daily schedule and routine they have every Monday. They all started outside with free play time. When they went back inside, everyone split into their groups. I work with Group 5, the 4th graders. In this group, the students learned and discussed food chains. Each student was split into groups and were either plants, herbivores, carnivores/omnivores, and decomposers. They then learned why food chains are important and how the sun is a big factor and source for food chains. After, they went to dinner, afternoon show, and then flex time. During flex, they read their book "Holes" as a class taking turns volunteering. After flex, they were dismissed to go home.

Today at SOAR, the students went through their daily routine. At the beginning, all the students checked themselves in, then proceeded to put their backpacks away before going outside to the playground for free play time. After free play, the group I was with (group 5) and group 6 played a "math relay" game on the soccer field. They were asked different math questions and was able to kick the ball into the goal if they answered correctly. I realized the use of academics and physical activity got the students thinking and energetic enough to be able to participate and be engaged in the activity. After activity, they had dinner, afternoon show, and then went into dismissal.

Today with SOAR at the Parson Hills Elementary site, the group I volunteer with (group 4), went through their daily SOAR rotations. They started outside with free play time which the group leader and I played volleyball with two of the students. After, group 4 went to the regular lab classroom and learned about adaptation and natural selection. They watched videos and learned about natural selection through a online simulator and watched national geographic videos on wildfires. After that was dinner time and instead of having their scheduled show time, the groups went straight to flex/reading time.

Today, the students got to play outside then transfer back inside for their group activity. They were split into groups to make DIY animal figures then learned about ecosystems. I helped pass out materials to each group and interacted with them by asking what they were creating and helping them figure out what ecosystem their creature lives in. Then after dinner, they had their daily "show" time with all of SOAR and finally entered flex or reading time until dismissal.

On my first day of service learning with SOAR at Parson Hills Elementary, I was introduced to the staff and students in the program. I followed my mentors around each place they went to and learned about the daily routine and schedule the students follow and got to interact with some of the students as well. The group I was in was a group of fourth grade students. Each day they do different activities and that day, they had a team bonding exercise to do called the "human knot". This exercise helped the students develop their collaboration and communication skills. Overall, I had a great first day and can not wait to continue throughout the rest of the semester!