Brisbin Crew

Our fall fieldwork overnights are complete!  The students have met amazing experts in the field, including one top historian of the Gold Rush who portrays James Marshall, and has been involved in over 70 documentaries covering the Gold Rush.  Students can not only describe in detail the 3 routes Argonauts and 49’ers took, which was our first case study content and learning targets, but they can also demonstrate knowledge about the various professions people capitalized on during this time period (The Outliers).  Students are working on an information piece that describes one aspect of the Gold Rush routes currently, as well as writing letters home explaining their experiences “out on the trail,” or “out on the ocean.” As we delve more into the second case study, students will learn about the entrepreneurs who used the Gold Rush as a professional tool outside of mining. […]

Welcome to a new school year, Crew! Meeting our new team this week was so exciting; we conducted many team building activities, explored topics in math and expedition content, and began establishing our Crew norms. Students are energized and ready to learn, as well as begin building the strong foundation a Crew requires. Our future's [...]

And just like that, the Brisbin Crew slam-dunks their case study 1 book project; copies currently processing and will be issued to our class once in print.  Just ask your mighty crew member how much fun they had making these- their explanation will be accompanied by a smile. You might just ask, well, what is their expedition about, Mrs. Brisbin?  I digress… Many moons ago my original SELS mac bit the dust.  Therefore, all passwords that I so conveniently saved onto my computer were also gone with the wind, including my account info.  Our speedy, tech guru came to my rescue immediately, but, alas, the monthly newsletter was back-burnered countless times until it was shameful, blah, blah.   To put it concisely, I am sorry! I promise to calendar in my newsletter articles so that they are as dependable as a Tahoe winter…. […]

Happy New Year, Crew! I hope your holiday break was restful, fun, and filled with family and friends. As we wrap up our expedition “Redcoats and Rebels,” students are completing their final project for their synthesis boxes: a biography and multi-draft sketch of Benjamin Franklin. Students are enjoying the steady pace of their workload- in comparison to the super intense push for Celebration of Learning. They feel accomplished in completing their final product and are looking forward to our new expedition which kicks off on January 20th. More on that later!…. […]

The Power of Words As we enter into our 3rd and final case study of our expedition, we examine the law of the Constitution, Bill of Rights, and Declaration of Independence as the cornerstone and foundation of the United States government.  Beginning with the infamous “Paul Revere’s Ride,” students have compared and contrasted multiple historical primary sources and created beautiful found poetry through the lens of works by Ralph Waldo Emerson and Phyllis Wheatly.  We have also composed a “rap” based on Taxation of the colonies (to be performed at our Social Dance final product).  Next up, we will create a personal Decalogue, comprised of 10 “maxims” (thank you, Dr. Franklin), and will work from a menu system to create a synthesis box that holds learned information about the famous and important documents that have shaped our country.   […]

“Of the people, for the people, by the people.  Democracy!” Students are wrapping up their exploration of the 13 colonies and 3 regions established by the Rebels this week.  Our first Case Study:  Colony Vs. King, has examined the influence King George of England had  on the people under his rule and escaping his rule.  Also, students in the Brisbin Crew have learned the 13 colonies’ locations and similarities and differences these colonies shared together.  Though our fieldwork was canceled, students still participated in a reenactment of 13 different battles, claiming each of the colonies, one by one.  Though the Redcoats won (by one colony!) students were able to examine the unjust nature and imbalance of power exhibited by the armies of the Redcoats and the Rebels.  We even tried to recruit our neighbors to fight on our sides during our glow in the dark bocce tournament in the gym with our buddies, the Bell Crew.  The Brisbin Crew has taken an in-depth look into the motivations of the Founding Fathers and their Rebel followers , including the political, social, religious, and economic reasons why these people chose to break away and start a revolution. […]

Happy November 1st!   Thank you to all who attended and contributed to the Bear Walk- it was a huge success.  Envelopes are coming in with the hard-earned money students raised for their Crews by walking around our track.  In the Brisbin Crew alone we have collected $200.00 already!  Students had a great time coming [...]

Expedition: The Brisbin Crew is working hard on their second Case Study:  The Asian Clam Invasion.  Students are exploring the impacts of Corbicula fluminea on the Lake Tahoe ecosystem through research of the periodic table (specifically nitrogen and phosphorous), and learning about the functions and systems of the asian clam.  Working on their final product, [...]

Welcome back from Spring Break!   Keep Tahoe Green?...The Chemistry of the Asian Clam Expedition: Students are involved in the first case study "The Algal Bloom."  Beginning with atomic structure and moving into the periodic table, students have been working up to focusing on Phosphorous and Nitrogen as key players in our local aquatic ecosystems. [...]

Happy March, Crew!   Language Arts: Tomorrow is the state writing test- students have been working very hard on crafting and drafting their writing pieces through Response to Literature, Narrative, and Summary Writers' Workshops.  Ask your child about the Narrative Prompt Story Glove, or the key ingredients to writing a perfect summary, or what a [...]