A Year To Treasure

It has truly been a year to treasure, and I am so proud of the growth and intellectual development I have seen in the Gemstones this year!

We ended the year reflecting on our overarching concept (Treasure); thinking and talking about why we treasure the subjects we learned about and what we treasure about learning in general.

Then we thought about what we treasured most about what we learned this year, and wrote a "treasure letter."

We put these inside personalized treasure boxes we created in the MakerSpace.

Then we created treasure maps, real or imaginary, to lead loved ones to our treasure. These showcased some of the mapping and geographic elements we learned about this year (map keys, cardinal and inter-cardinal directions, scale, landforms, etc.), but they REALLY showcased the creativity, originality, and imagination we have nurtured all year long!

 Ice Cream Island, located somewhere out in the middle of the Chocolate Ocean.

A compass rose featuring not just the cardinal and inter cardinal directions, but also the secondary-intercardonal divisions! (No underachievers here!)

  Here's lovely Unicorn Island...

 which, of course, has a mermaid pond and fairy trees!

I cannot pronounce this exotic island's name, but, being a cat lover, I'm sure I would love any place situated in the Meow Ocean...

 especially if the fish are all this exciting!

This one is "Banana-Phone Island." Don't you recognize it? It's a volcanic island, located somewhere in the Ring of Fire. (Where DO they come up with this stuff?)

On the last day of school, we hid our treasure boxes outside for parents and family to find. 

A sweet end to a treasure-filled year. Gemstones and families, I will truly treasure you all forever! 
You are PRICELESS!