Sixth Grade Greek Olympics by Jennifer C.

DNA Extraction Lab by Nareg

Recently in Science/Tech we have been talking about cells and organisms, and with that we started learning about DNA and how it makes up every living thing. Mrs. Bibayoff of course wanted us to get an up close look at DNA before we started diving into how it works and the different parts. This activity was super fun and seeing the DNA in the end was pretty cool.

Our test subject was a strawberry that we put through a process to in the end achieve little tiny strands of DNA. Our first step was to mash up the strawberries in a plastic bag to crush some of the cells. We then mixed together a DNA extraction liquid (water, soap, and salt). With a coffee filter, we squeezed out the juice from the strawberry into a cup so that was all we were left with. The very last step was to add rubbing alcohol to the strawberry juice and wait a couple of seconds. Sure enough you could see little strands of DNA in the cup.

I thought this was a very cool hands on way for us to take a look at DNA up close.

*From Mrs. Bibayoff*

Sneak Peek at Coming up in Science/Tech: I've been talking with two different scientists to come in and visit our classes. One is a biologist that would lead us through collecting our own cheek cells to extract the DNA. The other is a neurologist (brain scientist) from the world renowned UC Davis MIND Institute who plans to bring in. . .  Sheep Brains! Hoping they are both able to join us in April.

DNA extraction lab today. 🤓 #NCSinnovates @NCS_LE pic.twitter.com/k3JQ4aGJCj

— Mrs. Bibayoff (@LEroomI3) March 28, 2017

Sixth Grade Tribute to Martin Luther King, Jr.

Tech Note: Scroll around the Padlet below to see each student's contribution to our wall. Click on the expander button in the upper righthand corner to view fullscreen.

Science Family Night by Emi

My school Leading Edge had an event called Science Family Night last week. At the event students and their family got to explore stations and experiment. This took place in the cafeteria and in Mrs. Melina’s classroom. This event was hosted by Mrs. Bibayoff and Mrs. Molina (Science Teachers in LE) and the engineering club. 

There were many stations to check out including bubble art, aerodynamics, 3D printing and so much more! It was set up by Mrs. Bibayoff, and it was open for anyone to join, like a volunteer sign up for people in engineering club. I participated and helped out at the dry ice bubbles for the first shift and bubble art station for the second shift. I worked with my friends Juna and Jennifer while we helped at the dry ice bubbles station and then we volunteered at the bubble art station next. After completing our last fun shift I got to explore different stations like

the oobleck station where we got to get our own oobleck and learn about the three states of matter. Also, for this event, LE had guests like Dickeys barbecue, Pasco Scientific, and a dental group called Image Orthodontists. Some of the guests provided food and prizes. One had fun science demonstrations. This was a great way for students and family to have fun while learning science and experimenting with the different subjects and that's why LE has set up this event like this. I really liked this event and it is so fun being in engineering club. I would love to do it again.

Climate Snapshot Maps

Check out our class Climate Maps (organized by Science/Tech period):

40 Book Challenge by Te'a

The 6th graders have been expected to try and read 40 books in the entire school year. That might sound easy for some, but there’s a catch. Not only do you have to log the books you’ve read so far in a paper log, but you also have to add the books you read into a Padlet; which is a website that allows the 6th graders to create personalized digital book logs that others can access with a QR code (here's a link to an example). Not only that, but you can’t just read “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” 40 times. No, you have to read 40 DIFFERENT books. And sorry to you comic book lovers, but you have to step out of your comfort zone because in order to complete the challenge, you have to read books of different genres, such as science fiction and mythology.

With all that set aside, the challenge is a great way to allow us 6th graders to start reading new styles of books, not only because we have to. Starting to read a new genre can introduce a whole different way that you think about reading. You might also be more drawn to reading after discovering that there isn’t just one style of writing a book. As we are now about a third into this year, we have had a lot of time to read in morning production, so some 6th graders should (hopefully) be even closer to the finish line. So, what are you waiting for? Start reading!

Odes from Mrs. Bibayoff's Core Class

What’s Going On in LE? [Week of November 4th] by:Nathan

Overall, life here in Leading Edge has been great! I’ve made some new friends, and we’ve learned so

many new things. My classes are Expressions, PE, Science/Tech, Math, and last Core.

In Core we have started our ancient Egypt unit (as mentioned above). Right now we’re learning about Egyptians and their way of life. Also we’re making posters about different gods and goddesses. My group chose the god Seth, the god of storms and chaos. We drew a big picture of him and will write his name in hieroglyphics and add a cartouche (an oval shape that has name of royal person or god written on it in hieroglyphics) to it too. We also recently did our Nile brochures. We had to include a map showing it’s route, why it was important to early Egyptians, section about the Nile today, section about uses of papyrus, facts, and a creative cover.

 In Expressions we just finished making our “Apple 4 Ways” where you had to draw 4 different apples and use different mediums for each one. Also one of them had to feature some sort of collage. For mine I used colored pencil, charcoal, oil pastel, and tissue paper collage.Using charcoal was super unique because it was cool fading it and doing other cool things. So now in Expressions, to connect to our new Ancient Egypt unit in Core we are signing up for parts in our play, Mummy’s Tomb.

Right now in PE we are doing create a game where you have to create a safe game that fits in with either flexibility, cardio, muscle strength, muscle endurance, or body composition. We get to chose the equipment we need an create a game based on one of the fitness components. Your game has to have group dynamics, movement patterns so you know how to play, and lastly self responsibility. Our group has created a game with two goals, two bowling pins, two paddles, and a ball. The goal is to try to get the ball into the goal and if you hit the bowling pin too you get an extra point.

In Science/Tech we’ve just finished our trimester 1 portfolios. We had to state our projects that we completed in the first trimester. You also had to write about how you're doing in LE and what your goals are. Now we are learning about weather and climate. In class we went on this website about heat and sunlight. We played with a model on the computer about how sunlight reflects off the ground and transfers into the Earth. You can also add clouds and gases or adjust the albedo and speed to see what changes it makes. Hope you enjoyed my Leading Edge update!

Digital Storybooks

Inspired by the beautiful picture book Weslandia by Paul Fleischman and our studies of ancient civilization traits, sixth graders wrote their own civilization stories. Here are some that decided to go with a digital storybook format. Just click on the books below to read them.

Padlet Book Logs by Jessica

Padlet is a website that six graders are using this year to give their opinions on the books that they've read. It is very useful for other students because they get to see what their classmates thought about a book. So they could see if the book is worth reading. In fact, recently my class made it a bit more fun by getting to scan our classmates' QR codes with the iPads and see what they thought about the books they read so far this year and over the summer. 

It also comes in handy for the 40 books Challenge to remember what we have read and for teachers because they can see how much you're reading. I think it is the best website to comment on and review books because it lets you explain what you liked about the book and tell special highlights that you liked about the book. 

Chess by Noah Wells

Photo: Sixth graders learning chess in class
[Ms. Meindl's Twitter Page, twitter.com/expressivelea[

Leading Edge is an awesome school! I’ve learned so many new things and the year just started. But one thing was extremely fun to learn, it was chess! I had no idea how to play but Ms. Meindl taught me how to play in expressions and after that all I wanted to do was play chess.

I love the way chess is played. There are so many ways of winning and new strategies are being made. Chess is so relaxing to play and you use your brain the whole time. By playing chess my memory has been getting better, and I’m not forgetting anything. I’ve only been playing for about 2 weeks, and I’m never going to stop.

I have a really good friend Jensen. We have expressions together, and we have this rivalry. Every class that we can play chess, we always sit right next to each other and always try to win. Ms. Meindl thinks Jensen and I having a rivalry is funny, and it is. But for us, all it is bragging rights and the game is making us even better friends. The last game Jensen and I had, almost everyone in the class including Ms. Meindl were all around Jensen and I while we were playing chess. It was so cool that other people are as interested in chess as much as Jensen and I.

Flexible Seating by Ved Peesu

I think Leading Edge is a really astounding school. One reason I think this is true is because of the flexible seating. Flexible seating is really nice for students who don’t like to work sitting in one place all the time. They can choose from a variety of different places to sit. There are wobbly stools, high stools, beanbags, couches, and gamer chairs.


I believe that flexible seating helps students study and learn better because they are more comfortable and are more spaced out. Also, students can get tired of sitting in one place and not moving. For example, I can’t work in a regular chair as well as working in a spinning stool. Also, the body might get tired of staying in one position and students can easily lose concentration on their work. This makes Leading Edge a better place because it is student welcoming and make students be better learners.


There are many different places to sit, so if a student doesn’t like a spot they are in, they can move to another and try it. All the classrooms look better and amazing with all the new seating. I have sat and tried all the seats and they are significant to better learner. I am working well in these chairs and I am looking forward to seeing more. Flexible seating in Leading Edge makes it a better place to learn..