Last week, the first and second grade students began a new team challenge. They are to imagine that the power goes out at ASU Prep, and they are asked to stay in the classroom. How can they communicate with a neighboring classroom? In teams of three, the students are to imagine, plan, and create a communication device.
To begin, the class discussed sound. How is sound made? What is a vibration? Next, the students learned about inventions of the past. How did people communicate over long distances in the past? How can this help us? The students had many questions. Finally, the students discussed the challenge and asked more clarifying questions so they could begin planning their devices. They are so excited! For the past two weeks, the first and second grade students have been creating Lego models to apply the practices of mathematical problem solving. As they built snakes and race tracks, the students worked in teams to find creative solutions. The students wrote number sentences, answered multistep problems, and finally built models that represented their answers. Teamwork, problem solving, creativity, and reasoning were just a few of the skills the students applied as they persevered to solve the challenges.
For the next few weeks, the first and second grade students will be working with Legos to apply their mathematical problem solving skills. They will use the Legos to model solutions for solving word problems, understanding number operations, understanding place value, and much more! This first week, the students learned about classroom expectations when using Legos, explored the organizational methods of the Lego bins, and built Lego models that represent their favorite mathematical concepts.
In the STEM Lab the students rarely work individually. As a part of the Leader in Me program, the students refer to this concept as synergizing. This week, the students identified exactly what that concept means to them, and put it into action as they "saved Fred"! In the lab, the students have described synergizing as taking turns, listening to each other, making sure everyone is involved, encouraging each other, making a plan, and being kind. As the students practiced these skills, they synergized to save Fred. Fred is a worm that loves to sail his boat in the ocean. It is important to know that Fred cannot swim, and unfortunately NEVER wears his life vest. One afternoon while Fred was in the middle of the ocean, a wave capsized his boat knocking him into the air. Luckily he landed on the capsized boat, but his life vest was under it! The groups of three had to save Fred using only four paperclips. They were not able to touch or poke a hole through Fred or the vest. Could their team work together well enough to save Fred? It was an exciting time! Some groups were able to save him using the tools, and others saved him using their hands. Thankfully it worked out for Fred in the end!
This first week of classes is a fun and exciting time. The students are reminded of my expectations in the STEM Lab, learn about upcoming projects, and participate in a hands-on demonstration of air pressure. It is an exciting 45 minutes! Aside from raising hands, and responding to my attention getters, the expectations in the lab are to work hard, be smart, and be kind. I emphasize being kind, and we discuss the importance of kindness as we learn to synergize! To wrap up the class, I demonstrate my ability to make a can jump out of a cup on its own. I then attempt to have it jump into another cup. (I did this successfully once!!) The students are excited to see how magical I am, and then we discuss the scientific principles behind my trick! Our discussion included air pressure and force. Finally, the students are able to experiment with the jumping can! What wonderful start!
The classes are working feverishly to complete their Lego models for the upcoming first and second grade summative. Each model represents a specific learning place with a learning tool. The challenge is to some way incorporate a simple machine that can be moved using a crank, or motor. The students have been experimenting with elevators, gates, spinning stages, pulleys, fans, playground rides, and many more creative solutions. The groups are problem solving, collaborating, and using their creativity to meet their deadline. The STEM Lab has been a very exciting place as the Lego models have developed, and all of the other classes love seeing what the first and second grade students are coming up with!
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AuthorMrs. Houseman-STEM Specialist Archives
May 2017
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