Look at all of the STEMtastic bridges! Be sure to ask your child about the criteria they used to create their bridges. They did amazing work!
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The first and second grade students have learned so much about building bridges! They have completed their experiments, collected their date, and are ready to utilize all of the their new found knowledge. The challenge is to build a bridge that will span across a 15 inch gap, that will be strong and sturdy. They can't wait to start creating and testing their amazing ideas!
The first and second grade students have been feverishly working on their stop motion fact family movies! I have highlighted a few that contain all of the assigned criteria. Each movie must contain music, dialogue, a background, and a fact family theme. The students had an amazing time using their creativity and working together as a team.
What is a Stop Motion Movie, and how can we make one? For the last few weeks, the students have been learning about Stop Motion Movies, and using the Lego Movie Maker App to produce their own. The final challenge is for the students to create a stop motion movie about fact families. It will be exciting to see what the students come up with!
The first and second grade engineers have been working very hard on their windmills! This challenge has two parts. First, they must design and create efficient blades. The class has determined that efficient blades work quickly and easily. After the blades work efficiently, they are to connect a load, and continue to add weight to see how efficient their blades are. There are several groups that have designed blades that can lift 8 or 9 pennies! Wow!
As mechanical engineers, the students have created sails for boats. They are experimenting with different materials to determine which properties will work best. As the groups complete their designs, they test them and make improvements. The classes have determine that rectangular, light weight, medium to large sized sails are the most efficient. They will use this information as they begin to design and create their windmills!
In the last few weeks, students have been introduced to mechanical engineering, and windmills. They understand that mechanical engineers design and improve machines. They also understand that windmills use the energy of the wind to do work. This week, the students will be experimenting with using the energy of the wind. They are challenged to design sails for a boat that will carry the boat from one table to another on a track. The groups of three brainstormed ideas, made a plan, and created a sail. This week they will test and improve their designs.
The first and second grade students have been learning about length, height, and width in the STEM lab. After discussing the life cycle of the butterfly, the students created caterpillars, and found the length, width, and height of them. The first challenge was to create caterpillars that had specific measurements. After the students were able to create specific caterpillars, they worked in teams to make their own, and record each of the measurements. Finally, the students created a chrysalis around the caterpillar, and next week, they will begin creating butterflies that are symmetrical. The students are super excited!
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AuthorMrs. Houseman-STEM Specialist Archives
May 2017
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