Week of December 19-23

This week, the 3rd graders learned about ecosystems. We created a model food web to show how the living and nonliving things in an ecosystem are connected. This helped us understand how much devastation an oil spill can cause. We also learned how birds are affected by oil spills. We put feathers in oily water and discovered that water is not effective at cleaning the oil off the feathers. We then used dish liquid to carefully remove the oil and were much more successful. That's actually how birds are cleaned after a real oil spill!

The 4th graders invited their classmates in to play the carnival games they created during the math cycle. Everyone had fun playing the games and learning about probability! We also continued to program our lego robots. We learned that the move tank block controls both motors, so in order to make the robot go straight, the left and right powers must be equal.

4th graders playing carnival games

In 5th grade, we went on an invention hunt around the school and identified inventions as either type II (known problem with unknown method to solve it and unknown solution - like fans) or type III (unknown problem with unknown method to solve it and unknown solution - like the Promethean Board). We discussed how inventors have to be observant problem-finders and think up ideas that people didn't even know they needed. We then learned about the 4 steps in the inventive process: idea, invention, innovation, improvement. Our challenge was to take the invention of cardboard and create an innovation and improvement using that invention. This group made a puppet theater and improved it by making handles on the back to open it more easily.

Week of December 12-16

This week, the 3rd graders were given a design challenge: build a tower at least one foot tall that can support a stuffed animal cow. The only materials available were 50 index cards and 2 feet of tape! Even though not all groups met the goal, we all were successful at using the steps of the Engineering Design Process to analyze what worked well, what didn't, and ways we could improve our designs. It's all about the process, not the product!

Success feels so good!

Mission accomplished!

In 4th grade, we finished building our Lego robots and started programming them. We learned that there are different modes you can use to tell the robot what to do. For example, you can use degree mode, rotation mode, on for seconds, and more to move the robot a certain distance. We used our math skills to figure out the one rotation is equal to 360 degrees. Some groups even found the circumference of the wheel in order to figure out how to get the robot to go a certain distance!

Students watch their programs in action!

In 5th grade, our lesson focused on why people invent. We learned about Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs and talked about the old proverb: "Necessity is the mother of invention." We had some heated debates about what we need for survival versus what we need for happiness. Then we created inventions to meet each level of need using only 100 popsicle sticks. I was very impressed with the students' divergent thinking and creativity!

Students make inventions out of "wood"

Week of December 5-9

This was a very exciting week because we welcomed new students and began our engineering units! In 3rd grade, we talked about the meanings of the terms "technology" and "engineering" and cleared up some misconceptions that technology must involve electricity. We learned that it actually can be anything made by humans to solve a problem or make life easier (see the Powtoon below for a quick overview of what we discussed). We also learned that engineers design, develop, and improve technology. They are problem-finders and problem-solvers.

In 4th grade, we talked about the difference between robots and machines and learned that robots can sense their environment and react to it. We looked at some examples of robots found in the real world like the Roomba robot vacuum, the Big Dog military robot, and the da Vinci robot that can stitch up the skin of a grape. Then we began building our lego robots with our partners. Next week, we will begin to program our robots. We can't wait!

Busy building our lego robots!

In 5th grade, we began our unit on inventions by discussing some qualities inventors should possess. After much debate, we decided that the most important qualities are: 1. Creativity  2. Grit  3. Passion.

We also learned about the difference between divergent and convergent thinking.

Then we took E. Paul Torrence's test of creativity by brainstorming uses of a paper clip (fluency), categorizing the items on our list (flexibility), choosing the most unique one (originality), and creating a one minute commercial to go into detail describing this wacky use of a paper clip (elaboration). Here is a commercial for paper clip earrings!

Week of November 28-December 2

This week was our last week of the math cycle. The 3rd and 4th grade classes demonstrated what they learned by completing a post-assessment. It was amazing to see all the progress we made in just a few short months!

The 3rd graders also began working on a measurement project where they became city planners who must design a playground using skills they've learned in this unit like finding the perimeter that will give us the most area, figuring out how much space each piece of equipment will take up, making a drawing to scale, and much more! This project is something they can continue to work on at home or in their regular class when time permits.

In 4th grade, the students were busy designing their own carnival games. They made sure that the theoretical probability of winning was slightly less than the probability of losing so that the carnival will make money. Once the games are completed, we will invite students from their classes in to play our games!

The 5th graders worked diligently to learn about booleans and conditionals in order to get our game characters moving correctly across the screen. Now students have everything they need to finish coding their own video games! Some students have finished their games. Go to our 5th grade page and give them a try!!!

Week of November 14-18

Unfortunately, both of my daughters were sick this week, so I was only able to see my Monday and Tuesday classes. I was NOT happy about this!!! My 3rd graders have been learning about surface area. We have been using this new knowledge to figure out how many cans of frosting we would need in order to frost the top and 4 sides of 12 pieces of cake. We will continue to work on this next week.

In 4th grade, we continued to play probability games involving spinners and discussed what it means to be a fair game. Next, we will be using what we learned in this unit to design our own carnival games that are slightly unfair. After all, the carnival owners have to make some money! They can't have their customers winning all the time!

In 5th grade, we started to learn how to make our game images move by changing the input along the x and y axis. Next, we will learn how to prevent these images from flying off the screen never to return. We also began working on our own video games, applying all of the info we learned to fix a broken game and make it our own.

Week of October 31- November 4

This week the 3rd graders were asked to use their knowledge of liquid measurement to be smart consumers and decide which brands of lemonade the class should buy for their party. We learned that in order to compare the brands, we needed to calculate the cost per unit (or cup), and we realized that when you buy in bulk, the price usually goes down. We also started to talk about the volume of solids by building pieces of cake for our party out of connecting cubes. We realized that while area deals with the space inside a two-dimensional figure, volume is about how many cubes fit inside a 3-dimensional shape. In order to find the volume of the cake, we could count each cube, or we could multiply the lenght x width x height.
Watch this video for a reminder of how to calculate volume!

In 4th grade, we discussed what it means for a game to be fair. We realized that the theoretical probability of each player winning has to be equal in order for it to be a fair game. We then played a game involving spinners and learned that we needed to calculate the theoretical probability of each player winning in order to be sure if it is a fair game. Our experimental results varied from group to group and were not reliable.

In 5th grade, we are continuing to work on using the design recipe to write contracts, examples, and definitions of functions. We are learning about how variables are used in these functions and how programming is closely related to algebra. For example, students came up with a definition for a funtion called "average" that would take in two numbers (our variables) and calculate the average by adding them and dividing by two. We learned that each variable must have a unique name since it represents a different value.

Week of October 24-28

This week, the 3rd graders explored the concept of volume and capacity by learning about the English measurements: fluid ounces, cups, pints, quarts, pottles (half-gallons), and gallons. We learned a cool way to remember how to convert from one measurement to another.

Then we tried to figure out what types of lemonade we would buy for a class party based on the size and cost of each brand of lemonade. We want to be smart consumers and make sure we are getting the most for our money!

Hands-on exploration of liquid measurement!

in 4th grade, we learned about compound events and explored all the possible combinations when you roll two dice and find the sums or products. We learned that not all sums and products are equally likely. By making a tree diagram, list, or table, we were able to prove that some sums and products were more likely than others. For example, the only way to get a sum of 2 is to roll 1 + 1, so P(2) = 1/36. To get a sum of 7, you can roll 1 + 6, 2 + 5, 3 + 4, 4 + 3, 5 + 2, or 6 + 1, so P(7) = 6/36 or 1/6.

Students learn that making a table is a really efficient way to find all possible sums and products when you roll two dice.

In 5th grade, we continued to use the design recipe to define functions. We learned a new function called "put-image" that allows us to place one image on top of another in a specific location using x,y coordinates. I challenged the students to use this new function to create a flag of their choice. The image below shows how by using definitions and ratios, we are easily able to change the values for width and height and still get the red circle in the center of the flag.

Week of October 17-21

This week, we continued to work on finding the area of irregular shapes. We watched THIS video on how to cut off pieces of irregular shapes and reattach them to form a regular shape like a rectangle. Then we can use the formula for finding area (a = l x w) to calculate the area of an irregular figure. For more practice on this concept, try some of the activities in THIS slideshow.

In 4th grade, we learned systematic ways to find all possible combinations or outcomes of a situation. We made tree diagrams, systematic lists, and used multiplication to find the number of total combinations. Can you figure out this challenging problem?

Four different coins are tossed one at a time. How many different combinations of heads and tails are possible? List them. (Hint: use a tree diagram). Check out THIS video if you need help.

The 5th graders learned how to define values and functions in their programming language. We talked about how defining values and functions allows us to write code that is more efficient. We also learned how to use variables when defining functions (like if we want to make green triangles of different sizes or to make circles of different colors). Ask your child to show you what he/she can do in wescheme!

Week of October 10-14

This week, the 3rd graders continued to explore ways to find irregular area. We learned a method that involves decomposing a figure into rectangles, finding the area of each one using the length times width formula, and adding the areas together to find the total square units. We also learned to count whole and partial squares and add them together.

In 4th grade, we solidified our understanding of the difference between theoretical and experimental probability. We now know that theoretical probability is the number of favorable outcomes over the number of possible outcomes. It is not dependent on the number of trials. For example, on a dice, p(1)= 1/6 because there is one favorable outcome out of 6 possible outcomes. Experimental probability is the number of times an event occurs over the total number of trials. According to the Law of Large Numbers, the more trials we do, the closer experimental probability will get to theoretical probability. 4d also explored systematic ways to find all possible outcomes of a situation.

The 5th graders continued to learn new functions to create images and to combine images. Ask your child to show you how to use overlay to make a picture! 5d started to learn how to define functions in order to be more efficient. I am so impressed with how quickly the students are picking up on all of this new info. We have lots of future programmers on our hands!

Week of October 5-7

This week, 3b figured out the most efficient ways to find the area of an irregular shape (a fried egg). Instead of just counting each cm square inside the figure, the students figured out that drawing large rectangles inside the egg and finding their area by multiplying length times width saved us a lot of time. We still had to account for the whole and partial pieces that didn't fit inside one of our rectangles, so we also discussed how to put the partial pieces together to make wholes and add everything up.

4c and 4d learned how to use theoretical probability to make good predictions about what SHOULD happen in an experiment. Then they conducted experiments, compared their predictions to what ACTUALLY happened (experimental probability) and realized that even though our results won't come out exactly as we predicted, using theoretical probability is much more reliable than randomly guessing!

5c and 5d learned how to make and manipulate images using racket code. We learned new functions like rotate, flip-horizontal, flip-vertical, scale, overlay, and we used these functions to do lots of cool things to images.

A student uses the overlay function to combine images.

Week of September 26-30

In 3rd grade, we continued to explore the concept of perimeter, and we also learned that the area is the space inside a shape. We calculated the area of various pens that all had the same perimeter and realized that their area varied. We discovered that out of all the rectangular pens, the square had the largest area.

The 4th graders learned what unequally likely events are. We conducted an experiment to find out how often students would get homework, and we realized that the teacher who designed the experiment was very smart because getting homework as an outcome was more likely than no homework! We also learned that according to the Law of Large Numbers, you have to do MANY trials for your experimental probability to get close to your theoretical probability. Check out a video that explains this below:
https://learnzillion.com/assignments/3QU9PH2

In 5th grade, we realized that when we write code, we can produce images, not just numbers. We did a lot of experimenting and discovered how to write the code for many different shapes of varying sizes and colors. We used math skills (properties of shapes, angles, problem solving) to help us understand the meaning behind the code we were writing.

Week of September 19-23

This week, the 3rd graders learned about the importance of standardized units of measure after realizing that using our feet to measure out a pen for a dog would give us all different sized pens. We also learned that perimeter is the distance around the edge of a shape. We used an organized list to find all the possible pens with a perimeter of 56 feet. I was so impressed with the different strategies students used to find different pens with a perimeter of 56 feet!

Students use their feet to measure a 20 ft by 8 ft pen.

In 4th grade, we kicked off our probability unit by discussing what it means for events to be "equally likely" and that the probability of these events does not always equal one half. It depends on how many events there are. For example, when there were 8 colored cubes (one of each color) in a bag, the probability of picking any one color equals one eighth. We also learned that the experimental probability is found after conducting an experiment. It is the number of times an event occurs over the number of total trials conducted. For more info on experimental probability, or for an extra challenge, visit our 4th grade page!

Students record data while playing probability games with a deck of cards and a bag of colored cubes.

In 5th grade, we learned how to use circles of evaluation to write code, and we saw how order of operations is related to coding. We also discussed the importance of using error messages (or what we like to call "clues") to help us figure out our mistakes when writing code. Watch the video below for a review of how to turn circles of evaluation into code. For more practice, go to the 5th grade page.

Week of September 12-16

It was amazing to see all of my classes this week! We started off the year by talking about the meaning of the word grit: the combination of persistence (the ability to keep trying and trying to accomplish your goal) and resilience (the ability to bounce back after failure and try again). Success in life is not determined by how smart you are but by how you handle setbacks and obstacles.
To test out our grit, we tried to solve this brainteaser:
    S E N D
+ M O R E
__________
M O N E Y

We discussed the importance of using mathematical strategies instead of just guess and check to solve problems like this one. I was very impressed with the strategic thinking and grit my students demonstrated when tackling this problem!

Welcome Back!!!

I hope everyone had a fun and relaxing summer! My family and I spent lots of time at the beach and the pool. My five-year-old is finally brave enough to go to amusement parks and ride the rollercoasters with me, so I had a blast! Now that school is back in session and I've seen some of your smiling faces greeting me in the hallways, I'm super excited to start our G&T classes. With a little hard work and grit, we are destined to do great things this year!

Week of June 6-8

NOTE: Metuchen High School will be performing Romeo and Juliet in their new outdoor theater on Thursday, June 9th through Saturday, June 11th. For more info, click HERE.

This week, the 5th graders gave the TED Talks they've been working so hard on this cycle! You can view many of them by clicking on the TED Talk page at the top of the page!

Our 4th graders continued to act out scenes from Shakespeare's play, Macbeth. Stay tuned for videos of these performances!

The third graders impressed me with their blackout poems and their specific use of details in their "Where I'm From" poems!

Week of June 1-3

Metuchen High School will be performing Romeo and Juliet in their new outdoor theater on Thursday, June 9th through Saturday, June 11th. For more info, click HERE.

This week, the 4th graders took turns directing and acting in a scene from Macbeth. 

Week of May 23-26

This week, some 3rd grade classes worked on self image poems, making sure to include very specific details that allow us to really get to know them. One class learned about how to create blackout poetry. A blackout poem is when a poet takes a marker (usually black marker) to already established text–like in a newspaper or book- and crosses out words until a poem is formed. The trick is to find important words that, when put together, have meaning to the poet that is totally unrelated to the original text. Check out some examples written by my AMAZING 3rd grade poets!

he landed
thump!
he laughed
did I do wrong?
No
nice try
I'll try again
I believe

you could do it
breathe deeply
now climb
to the top of the
world
then jump out into
the air

Because of the field trip and NJ ASK, I didn't get much time with the 4th graders this week. The one class I met with learned about the director's role in a play. One student took on the role of the director and guided his/her classmates in acting out the opening scene from Macbeth. We will continue working on this next week!

The 5th graders added visuals to enhance their TED Talks and practiced with a partner. I can't wait to hear the talks the next time we meet!

Week of May 16-20

This week, some 3rd grade classes continued to work on using line breaks and white space to enhance the meaning of poetry, while other classes read George Ella Lyons's famous poem, "Where I'm From." After discussing how her poem gives us a sense of who she is and where she comes from, we began writing our own self image poems. In all classes, we discussed the importance of using really specific details to make our readers feel like they are in the moment with us.

In 4th grade, we read and analyzed some of Shakespeare's famous sonnets. We then tried to write our own sonnets. I was so impressed with the students' abilities to write in iambic pentameter! I think we might have some future Shakespeares on our hands!!!

The 5th graders learned about how to write a conclusion for their TED Talks. It is important to remind readers of the thesis and to include a call to action. Tell listeners what they should do or how they should change their behavior as a result of listening to this talk. 

Week of May 9-13

This week, the 3rd graders continued to learn about aspects of poetry like line breaks and white space. We discussed that, in addition to careful word choice, decisions about how to place those words on the page can affect and enhance the meaning of a poem. The poet, Douglass We continued to write and share poems, applying the techniques we have learned so far. Check out a few examples below!

In 4th grade, some classes learned about sonnets. After learning about the rhyme scheme and iambic pentameter, we also read and discussed the themes of some of Shakespeare's famous sonnets (sonnet 18 and sonnet 73). I was very impressed with the students' abilities to find the deeper meanings in the poems! We then started to write our own sonnets. I can't wait to see how they turn out!

The 5th graders spent time researching and crafting the bodies of their speeches. We learned some techniques to avoid saying "um" and "ah": pay attention and notice when you do it, close your mouth, and take a pause. It IS possible to break this habit!

Week of May 2-6

Due to PARCC testing this week, I haven't been able to see many classes. I can't wait to get back to work next week!!!

Week of April 25-29

This week, the 3rd graders continued to impress me with their ability to use poetic techniques like personification, figurative language, and descriptive language to describe ordinary things in poetic ways. We turned an ordinary stapler into a shark whose teeth are falling out, an alligator chomping its prey, and even a rabbit hopping along leaving a trail of teeth behind! We are starting to look at the world as poets, finding the extraordinary in everyday objects and places around us!

In 4th grade, some classes were still exploring the language of Shakespeare, while one class read a child-friendly version of Romeo and Juliet and took a closer look at the famous balcony scene. After viewing and reading the scene, the students chose a section to turn into a texting conversation between Romeo and Juliet using this site: http://iphonefaketext.com/

In 5th grade, we viewed the beginnings of some powerful TED Talks and learned what makes a good hook for a talk: a shocking statistic, jaw-dropping personal story, provocative question, powerful quote. We then wrote the first minute of our talks, making sure to hook our audience and state our thesis in a clear way.

Week of April 18-22

It was wonderful to finally see my students after a month without them! Some of my third graders were still exploring aspects of poetry like rhythm and imagery by using poems as inspirations for paintings and choral readings with instruments. Others began writing their own poems using techniques like creating interesting lists and describing ordinary objects in unique ways. I was very impressed with how the students were able to apply so many techniques they learned from the poetry they read in their own poems!

The fourth graders continued to explore the language of Shakespeare by turning modern day conversations into Elizabethan language and vice versa. We learned that Shakespeare invented many words that we still use today, and then we invented some of our own words and definitions!

In fifth grade, we learned that the key to a good speech is having a specific POINT to the talk, and that point is called the thesis. Check out how to create a "happy" thesis below!

Week of March 21-24

This week, the 3rd graders created illustrations inspired by poems and went on a poetry scavenger hunt, looking for poetic language like similes, metaphors, alliteration, personification, and onomatopoeia. Check out the picture below of how each student visualized the poem "Sunset" by Lillian Moore.

In 4th grade, we continued to explore puns and the language of Shakespeare. We learned that Shakespeare made up many words that we still use today! Here is a list of some of those words:
http://www.shakespeare-online.com/biography/wordsinvented.html

The 5th graders learned the skill of mind mapping and how it helps us store and retain information. We started to create mind maps for our possible TED Talk topics. Over the next month, the students should continue to work on these mind maps by doing lots of research.

Week of March 14-18

This week, the third graders continued to explore aspects of poetry by participating in poetry stations. In the poetic language station, the students read Owl Moon and My Mama Had a Dancing Heart, and they looked for poetic language in the texts. We discussed how phrases like "hold on tight leaves" and "trees that stood as still as statues" help us create pictures in our minds. In the choral reading station, students chose a poem to put to music. They had to find the rhythm and then choose a percussion instrument to accompany their reading of the poem. Here is one group in action!

In 4th grade, one class learned all about puns. We looked at modern day puns, puns from Shakespeare's time, and we started to come up with our own puns! My other classes had a special visit from Mr. Duggan. As a former high school English teacher, Mr. Duggan had a lot to share with us about Shakespeare's language, the types of plays he wrote, his themes, sayings that originated from Shakespeare, and even some special effects from the Elizabethan times!

In 5th grade, we learned some tools to help us be more creative: fluency, flexibility, originality, and elaboration. We started to generate and refine some possible ideas for our TED Talks. Then we learned about the tenets of improv (be present, find the "yes, and...") and played a game called "The Ignorant Expert" where the students had to fake it 'til they make it!

Week of March 7-11

This week was the start of our ELA cycle. Our 3rd graders were immersed in poetry. We read a variety of poems and discussed the techniques the poets used to make these poems so special. Even something as small as where the words are placed can have a huge impact on the meaning and mood of the poem! We talked about how good poetry evokes feelings in its readers and can be interpreted in different ways depending on the experiences of the readers.

In 4th grade, we went back in time to Elizabethan England and visited the Globe Theatre. We did an online scavenger hunt to learn more about the life and times of William Shakespeare. We were amazed to find out how many famous plays he wrote and that they are still so adored today!

The 5th graders began our unit on TED Talks. We talked about how what we say is just the "tip of the iceberg." It's our nonverbal communication that does most of the talking! We also watched some TED Talks and discussed the attributes that made them successful.

Week of February 29-March 4

This week was our last week of engineering! I was very impressed with my 3rd graders final presentations related to our oil spill unit. I learned a lot about cruise ships, renewable energy sources, the Keystone Pipeline, and land v. oil spills!

The 4th graders shared their successes and failures related to their Lego design challenges. I really admired the students' ability to persevere when faced with a lot of obstacles, and it was interesting to see how each groups approached similar tasks in such unique ways!

The 5th graders shared their passion projects with some G&T students from other classes. It was so much fun to see what everyone had been working on. We discussed how we learned a lot about ourselves during this unit. Some of us loved the chance to work on an independent, self-guided project, while others were intimidated by the task (at least at first).

A hat that brings happiness to people!

Week of February 22-26

This week, some of the 3rd grade classes improved their oil spill clean up processes while other classes read an article about the BP oil spill and it's devastating impact on the environment. I can't wait to see the final projects the students have been working on for the past few weeks!

This was the last week of building and programming for our 4th grade engineers. Look at our 4th grade page to see all of our amazing accomplishments! This unit really taught us the importance of grit and of learning from our failures!

The 5th graders were busy completing their work on their passion projects. Next week, we will share what we did and what we learned about ourselves through the process.
***One of our students organized a book drive that will be taking place all of next week. If you have books to donate, don't forget to bring them in to help this worthy cause!!!

Week of February 16-19

This week, some 3rd grade classes improved their oil spill cleanup processes by using different materials, changing the order of their steps, or by combining some materials. One group actually did the unthinkable- they removed all of the oil from their model river! However, we also discussed how sometimes our improvements do not actually make the final result better. That's okay as long as we learn from our mistakes!

The 4th graders are still busy tackling their design challenges.
One group struggled to get their robot to move without wheels, but they showed true grit, stayed committed to the challenge, and achieved success by the end of the period!!! Watch their robot go!

Here is a video of a robot going up an incline. The students added gears for extra power. It can make it up the incline- now they just have to get it to go straight!

Check out this petition written by a fifth grader for his passion project. If you agree, sign it!

Week of February 9-12

This week, the 3rd graders implemented their first design to clean an oil spill. They were surprised by how quickly the oil spreads throughout the model river! We discussed what went well and what improvements should be made, and next time, we will create and implement a new plan based on these observations.

Oil, oil everywhere!!!

In 4th grade, some groups finally accomplished the goal of their design challenges! Check out the video below of a robot moving with legs instead of wheels!

The 5th graders are making great progress on their passion projects- conducting interviews, complining research, designing websites, and much more!

Week of February 1-5

This week, the 3rd graders continued to imagine and plan processes to clean an oil spill. Here is a link to some kid-friendly info on the BP oil spill: http://www.nwf.org/kids/ranger-rick/ranger-rick-on-the-big-oil-spill.aspx

The 4th graders were busy with their design engineering challenges- building legs to make the robot walk, adding gears to go up an incline, programming it to draw various shapes, etc.  Stay tuned for videos once we the challenges are completed!

The 5th graders have been busy working on their passion projects designing websites, doing taste tests, conducting surveys and analyzing data, creating presentations, putting together a book drive, and much more. I can't wait to see what they accomplish over the last few weeks of the project!

Week of January 27-29

This was a short week due to the snowstorm. Some of the 3rd graders were still in the "ask" phase of the engineering design process, experimenting with various materials to clean an oil spill. Other groups started the "imagine" and "plan" phases, where they brainstormed a few processes and met with their groups to decide on their first plan. I'm excited to see what happens when we test these plans!

In 4th grade, we continued to work on our design engineering challenges. Some groups were busy dismantling and rebuilding their robots with legs, arms, gears, etc. Others were starting to program the robots to draw shapes or go up an incline. The difficulty of these challenges has been teaching us the importance of learning from our mistakes and persevering in the face of obstacles!

In 5th grade, we continued to make action plans for our passion projects and have started putting these plans into action!

Week of January 19-22

This week, our 3rd grade environmental engineers were working on the "Ask" phase of the Engineering Design Process. They were asking questions about what materials and tools work well (and not so well) to clean up an oil spill by testing them in a model oil spill. We learned that the materials had certain properties that made them effective or ineffective in containing and cleaning up the oil. This will help us with our next steps of imagining and planning our clean-up process.

Engineers busy taking notes on how well materials work to clean an oil spill.

In 4th grade, we formed new teams and were introduced to our design challenge options. While many groups are still in the planning phase, one group already created an arm for their robot that can hold a pencil or marker and draw on paper! I can't wait to see all of the amazing things that my students will be able to program their robots to do!

In 5th grade, we created action plans to organize what we have to do to accomplish our goals and in what order these steps should be taken. Then we were busy working on things like creating surveys, doing research, designing websites, composing emails, conducting taste tests, and much more!

Taste testing beet/carrot/orange juice!

Week of January 11-15

This week, my 3rd grade environmental engineers used the data they found last week about pH levels in Greentown to make a presentation for the mayor about what was causing pollution in the garden and pond. They also came up with some practical steps the mayor could take to reduce the pollution (fine the factories that were illegally dumping, fix a leak in a waste tank, properly clean road salt, look into a new type of fertilizer or use less acidic fertilizer). We learned how important it is to stick to the data we find when drawing conclusions.

Environmental engineers busy at work making a presentation for the mayor of Greentown and its citizens about how to solve their pollution problems.

In 4th grade, some students have been creating their own challenges for their robots. In the video below, the robot is programmed to go forward and jump back at a green line using a switch and loop.

The 5th graders continued to give their pitch presentations about the passion projects they will be pursuing. They received very valuable feedback from their peers!

Week of January 4-8

It was so nice to see everyone again after a long break! This week, the 3rd graders were environmental engineers who were hired by the mayor of Greentown to investigate while plants and frogs were dying in the garden and pond. We used pH strips to test the pH levels in the soil and water in various locations around town. Then we shared and recorded our results and visited each site to investigate further. We learned that pollution in one area can spread to other areas, we were also surprised by some of the causes of the pollution. Next week, we will make recommendations to the mayor about what should be done to remedy the problems in the environment.

basic, neutral, and acidic pH results from our testing

In 4th grade, we've been flying through the tutorials and have been able to get our robots to do amazing things. The video below uses the switch block to make the robot follow a path. 

In 5th grade, we've been working on our pitch presentations. The purpose of these presentations is to inform our classmates of the essential question we are trying to answer, share our possible solutions, and get feedback about our passion project ideas before we begin the planning and research phase. My Monday class did an excellent job of making sure to rely on images (instead of a lot of text) to make their presentations interesting and engaging! I look forward to seeing the rest of the presentations next week!