Weeks of January 2nd and January 8th

Our third graders were environmental engineers hired by Mayor Higgins of Greentown to investigate problems with animals and plants dying in the pond and garden. We used pH strips to test soil and water samples from various locations around town and compared this data to data taken three years ago. We noticed that some areas had become much more acidic, causing problems in the pond, while other areas had become more basic, causing harm to the garden. We then made visits to the locations in question to learn more about what was going on. Finally, we made recommendations to Mayor Higgins about how to solve these problems and prevent future problems with the ecosystem in Greentown.

samples we tested with pH strips

In 4th grade, we learned a lot more about how the programming blocks work. We learned that making the power negative moves the robot backwards, while making the steering negative makes the robot move left. Some groups began learning about the various types of turns the robot can make by adjusting the power of the left and right motors. 

Our 5th graders 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. I was so impressed with the amazing inventions the students came up with: a stool that actually works, a hockey game, a bowling alley, a few puppet show theaters, shelving systems, a camping chair, a computer cooling station, and more! Each group was also able to improve their original innovations. For example, the camping chair creators added a part that pulls out to become a bed. Check out some of these innovations below!

 One 5th grade class also started to take apart old pieces of technology in order to see what's inside. You can see them in action taking apart a calculator and headphones!