The Blue Jay Chatter | Page 5

WHAT DO YOU DO WITH AN IDEA? The most common way to introduce children to the idea of a career is to ask them: “What do you want to be when you grow up?” While this question often prompts kids to think about their future--it may not always challenge them to think about what skills they need or training required to be successful at their chosen career. The 4th and 5th grade students were read the book, “What Do You Do With An Idea,” by Kobi Yamada, that lead them to think critically about the journey they need to take that will lead them to a satisfying career. The 4th grade students were asked to come up with an idea-one that held special meaning to them. Students were encouraged to think big! While the 5th grade students were asked to come up with a problem they are interested in solving. This problem could be as close to them as in their own neighborhood or as far as they could imagine. included: Industrial & Engineering Technology; Human Services; Natural Resources Agriculture; Business, Management & Technology; Arts & Communication and Health Services. Each student was to match their ideas and problems to a career path. From there, student’s then completed a brief career interest inventory to see if their likes/dislikes and interests matched up with the career path from their original idea/ problem. ELEMENTARY MUSIC The Kansas City Symphony is bringing an “Instrument Petting Zoo” to the elementary school on Thursday, April 28th. All students in PreK through 6th grade will get to hear about the instrument families, then test out as many instruments as they would like. This will be a great experience that will certainly enhance their understanding of how instruments work, as well as the skill level needed to play them well. Bess DeLoux, West Platte Elementary Music Teacher These lessons exercised the minds of our students by having them think about several important concepts: 1. What school subjects are needed to be successful in their chosen career path? 2. What training after high school is required to do the job of their choice? 3. What other skills or traits are needed in the career path they chose? All students then worked together to think about what types of information and tools they would need in order to successfully bring their ideas to life or solve the problem they chose. Not only were the students introduced to the six career paths but they were given the opportunity to think deeper about what it is they want to be when they grow up. The six career paths were then introduced to both 4th and 5th grade students. They Dee Anna Kelley, West Platte Elementary School Counselor CHILDREN’S LITERATURE FESTIVAL Early Childhood Census Survey West Platte is excited to learn more about our future Bluejays! We are hoping to discover more about our STOCK MARKET families with young children (prenatalage five) in our district. If you have, or GAME WINNERS are expecting a child within this age range, assisttheusStock in filling a The ALPS please class played Marketout Game inshort the Fallsurvey of 2015.so that we may better meet the needs of families in our “Deep Pockets,” a group of three sixth grade district. F