So last week in one day I went from building wagons with construction paper... to creating a paper flower phenotype based on a randomly drawn genotype... to discussing pathogenic bacteria and viral infections... to building a Pendulum! I love my job.
Kindergarten classes have just wrapped up the first unit on Forces and Motion. We have studied pushes and pulls in various ways over the past 8 weeks. We just learned the steps of the Design Process (Click here to see the PLTW version) and how using it will help us solve even every day problems. The we discussed a problem that our friends have- they want to put up a swing set but there are a lot of heavy rocks piled where they want to put it. So we designed and built something to solve the problem. Click here for few pictures. First Grade will be ending the Animal Adaptations unit by dressing a traveler and packing a suitcase full of supplies to survive in one of four habitats. Using our knowledge of habitas, survival needs and the examples of adaptations from animals that live there, we will decide the best way to equip our traveler. Second Grade has been exploring coding. Do you know the difference between a program and an algorithm? We do! (At least we should. Lol!) Our final project will be to put together the mini-challenges we've been doing to create a game. We will talk about software engineers, game technicians, and the ins and outs of creating a good video game. Coding apps such as Scratch Jr and Tynker are available for Apple and Android devices. Search "Kids coding" and see what you get. Third Grade is learning about plant genetics. We have learned about genotypes, phenotypes and even explored a Punnett Square. Our final project is right around the corner- we will be tracing the genetic history of a few plant samples. The words Petri dish, pipette and seed sample will be thrown around. I remember learning all of this in high school! I am amazed at how our 8 year olds can absorb this information. #geneticcodesarecool! Fourth Grade began building with the Vex Kits. There is a website with build instructions. So far we have made a Pendulum and a car. These were used to investigate potential and kinetic energy as well as motion. In the near future, the students will have to modify the base car to hold an egg and keep it safe as it collides with the classroom wall. The kits that we use in class (third grade-simple machines, fourth grade- transportation and fifth grade-robots) can be purchased at this site. Smaller versions can be found on Amazon or in stores like Walmart or Target. They are through a company called VEX Robotics. These would make great Christmas presents. Just sayin! Fifth Grade classes ventured into the wonderful world of bacteria (both good and bad) and viruses. Micoorganisms can be so fascinating. Our vast knowledge of communicable disesases and how they spread will be put to the test when we attempt to get to the bottom of a mystery illness. Although I know many students have enjoyed learning about infectious diseases, most are chomping at the bit to start robotics. We will begin the robotics unit right after Halloween. Thanks for checking in. All kidding aside, I do love my job. I enjoy going from topic to topic in rapid fire throughout the day. I love exposing the kids to information and ideas that are outside of the classroom walls. We are scientists, engineers, and problem solvers every minute of class. Take some time to explore on your own at home. Check out this website I found this week. It has 239 links for STEM Related fun! Send me an email of anything cool you discover. I would love to include some blurbs from home in my next post!
0 Comments
Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
Leave a Reply. |
Mrs. Schoff's
|