Kindergarten
Our energetic and smiling kindergartners focused on building 2D and 3D forms. As a class we reviewed triangles, rectangles, squares, spheres, cylinders, rectangular prisms, triangular prisms and cubes. Center 1 focused on using LEGOs to create the forms and center 2 focused on using the shape finder app called: Learn Shapes.
During our next session, kindergartners will begin constructing the forms out of toothpicks and marshmallows. Our challenge statement will be: Can I make 3D forms out of marshmallows and toothpicks?
1st Grade
Our fabulous 1st graders will work hard during our next two rotations. First graders will focus on the challenge statement: What is the tallest freestanding structure your group can build using the LEGO blocks provided? During our first session team members measured their structures using pencils and we discussed what a half of a pencil looks like and how to write 1/2. STEM Team members will use centimeters to measure during our next session! Our data will be placed on the STEM Data Center board for us to compare and contrast.
2nd Grade
The amazing 2nd grade STEM team’s problem statement is: What is the strongest arch your group can build using sugar cubes and glue? This week groups began brainstorming and generating a plan of how to accomplish the task. The class watched a short 2 min. video clip showing the strength of an arch compared to a beam. Ask your child which is stronger, a beam or an arch?
During our next session, students will finalize their plan and select a solution and many groups will begin building their arch out of sugar cubes and glue. We will test our structures in the upcoming weeks using weights.
3rd Grade
The 3rd grade STEM team’s focused on buoyancy! The problem statement is: What is the most buoyant boat, with the most amount of load, your group can build using aluminum foil? STEM Team members will use paper clips to test their boat. As a class, we began the project by discussing why some items float and why others do not. Next, groups read an article about bouncy and we discussed it as a class. STEM team groups also started sketching and brainstorming what their boat should look like. How long should their boat be? How wide? How tall should the sides be?
During our next session, third graders will finalize their plan and select a solution and many groups will begin constructing their boats out of aluminum foil.
4th Grade
Our incredible 4th grade teams began the planning and brainstorming stage of the design process this week. The teams’ problem statement is: What is the strongest bridge your group can build using wooden stirring rods and glue? To begin, teams watched a short video clip about the history of engineering bridges. The students then read an article about bridges and used the information they read to complete a bridge challenge on the iPad. Ask your child about the activity! During our next session, teams will begin sketching possible solutions and some teams will begin constructing their bridge!
Our energetic and smiling kindergartners focused on building 2D and 3D forms. As a class we reviewed triangles, rectangles, squares, spheres, cylinders, rectangular prisms, triangular prisms and cubes. Center 1 focused on using LEGOs to create the forms and center 2 focused on using the shape finder app called: Learn Shapes.
During our next session, kindergartners will begin constructing the forms out of toothpicks and marshmallows. Our challenge statement will be: Can I make 3D forms out of marshmallows and toothpicks?
1st Grade
Our fabulous 1st graders will work hard during our next two rotations. First graders will focus on the challenge statement: What is the tallest freestanding structure your group can build using the LEGO blocks provided? During our first session team members measured their structures using pencils and we discussed what a half of a pencil looks like and how to write 1/2. STEM Team members will use centimeters to measure during our next session! Our data will be placed on the STEM Data Center board for us to compare and contrast.
2nd Grade
The amazing 2nd grade STEM team’s problem statement is: What is the strongest arch your group can build using sugar cubes and glue? This week groups began brainstorming and generating a plan of how to accomplish the task. The class watched a short 2 min. video clip showing the strength of an arch compared to a beam. Ask your child which is stronger, a beam or an arch?
During our next session, students will finalize their plan and select a solution and many groups will begin building their arch out of sugar cubes and glue. We will test our structures in the upcoming weeks using weights.
3rd Grade
The 3rd grade STEM team’s focused on buoyancy! The problem statement is: What is the most buoyant boat, with the most amount of load, your group can build using aluminum foil? STEM Team members will use paper clips to test their boat. As a class, we began the project by discussing why some items float and why others do not. Next, groups read an article about bouncy and we discussed it as a class. STEM team groups also started sketching and brainstorming what their boat should look like. How long should their boat be? How wide? How tall should the sides be?
During our next session, third graders will finalize their plan and select a solution and many groups will begin constructing their boats out of aluminum foil.
4th Grade
Our incredible 4th grade teams began the planning and brainstorming stage of the design process this week. The teams’ problem statement is: What is the strongest bridge your group can build using wooden stirring rods and glue? To begin, teams watched a short video clip about the history of engineering bridges. The students then read an article about bridges and used the information they read to complete a bridge challenge on the iPad. Ask your child about the activity! During our next session, teams will begin sketching possible solutions and some teams will begin constructing their bridge!