Kindergarten and 5th grade buddies....

So for the past 3 years one of my best friends (who teaches Kindergarten) and I have partnered our classes for various projects each week.  We often try to have a STEAM focus, but not always.  The key is trying to match my 5th grade curriculum to the K curriculum.  This week the Kindergarten students are learning about different types of movement.  Side to Side, Back and Forth, Zig-Zag, Round and Round.  We have done this project the past few years and it is always one of our favorites.  The students must use a piece of posterboard to create a track for a marble to pass from one side of the track to the other while demonstrating 3 different types of movement.  They only have popsicle sticks, straws, scissors and tape to complete this challenge.   This is always a great way to see the students' problem solving skills.  Here are a few pictures from this year and years past.

The students quickly figure out that when they pick up the posterboard to guide the marble through the track that the marble rolls right over their "guides" and off of the track.  Very few students build up higher walls at first, but after their first test run they find out that these walls are essential.

Here are a few more projects:

Toothpick Towers:  Given 40 toothpicks and one tub of play dough, who can build the tallest tower?

Two Part Project: 

Part 1: Using aluminum foil, build a boat that can hold the three men (Lego Men) from Rub-a-dub-dub.

Part 2: How many unifix cubes can your boat hold?  Do you need to change you plan?

STEM Challenge 5/1 Zipline

This week's STEM Challenge was to create a free standing Zipline that would carry a Lego man 3 feet.  3 Participants created successful designs! 

Jessica was the first to complete her design.  She came in ready with a successful prototype Monday morning! Excited teacher here!!

Kennedy brought her design in on Tuesday, but needed to make a few changes.  We worked a little Tuesday.  Tested the zip line, made a few more adjustments and had a successful run on Thursday!  I am very proud of Kennedy for continuing to work and never giving up!

Mason brought his design in on Friday and also had a successful first run!

Very proud of these three! Your hard work and determination certainly show.  

STEM Challenge Catapult

A few weeks ago our STEM Challenge was to design and build a catapult from household items.  No kits or legos could be used.  The winner was determined by whose catapult could shoot a mini-marshmallow the farthest.  Here are a few of the designs.  

    Our Winning design is Emma (Below).  She wanted her prize to be the rest of the marshmallow bag! :) 

It is a little hard to see, but this was a launching deck.

Emma's design featured a large plastic kitchen spoon, a shoebox and a few other items to create tension.  All participants did a great job!

STEAM Challenge 1/16

This past week we started our STEAM Challenge.  Friday of the previous week I showed the students AeroProps.

I purchased one at Education Express for about $2.00.  I felt certain that my students could create something similar.  The requirements were that the students use household items to recreate the motion of the Aero Prop.  This week was quarter testing, so only one student accepted the challenge, but he did a GREAT job.  See below:

Donovan made his prototype out of straws and origami paper.  He used a little hot glue (with parent supervision).  He even ensured that the propellers were angled like the model as well.

This student is always up for a challenge.  He even started his own cooking blog.  Check it out here...

Chef D's Cooking for Kids

Upcoming STEAM Challenge:  Students must you a contraption to pick up a LEGO man without bending over.  They must then walk LEGO man 2 yards without dropping him.  I can't wait to see what they come up with next!

Coordinate Grid Battle Ship

This morning we had Science End of Quarter Testing and this followed several days of Quarter Testing.  I wanted to give the students an activity (that wasn't technology based), that they would enjoy and would allow them to make noise, laugh, and learn at the same time.   My Accelerated math group is ahead in the pacing guide (Not a bad problem, right? :)), So we used the time to play Coordinate Grid Battleship.

Find it here.....Coordinate Battleship

Did I mention it's FREE!  It is a very simple resources but the student instructions are very clear.

Early Finish Activities

So in our class if you finish a class assignment early you have several options.  The first option is our weekly THINK TANK.  The Think Tank encompasses several challenge activities.  Students have all week to complete.  The first assignment is the "quizzle".  A quizzle is a word play that represents a common saying.  For example,

"Somewhere over the rainbow"











Another aspect is Mathological Liar which can be found for specific grade levels HERE
I present 1 case per week and the student analyze the "suspects" math to determine if their math is incorrect.  Whoever has incorrect math is the "liar" and therefore the criminal.  I like Mathological Liar because it has a mystery theme, but also because it has students analyze mathematical errors and work backwards.

The 3rd component of the Think Tank requires that students solve an Algebraic Reasoning problem.  

4th area: That's Baloney is a FABULOUS game that has 5 categories.  One for each subject: Math, Reading, Science, Social Studies, and Miscellaneous.  Student have to determine if the statement is TRUE or Baloney.  You can purchase HERE

Students also have Boggle- (Word and Equation)  Their goal is to find has many words and accurate equation in the random make up of letters and numbers.

Here are two more items I have added to the EARLY Finish opportunities.

Brain Builders (Purchase HERE) This is my FAVORITE new activity because it requires students to build 3 dimensional objects for 2 dimensional views.  Students use top view, side view and front view to construct an object.  This is rooted in STEM with engineering and problem solving.

Speaking of using critical thinking and applying 2-D plans to 3-D objects, I purchased this book over the weekend.

Origami incorporates so many different curriculum areas, but specifically math with shapes, nets, translations, flips, etc.  We already have several students utilizing this book during indoor recess!

One of my goals is to provide engaging and beneficial actives for early finishing student!

Band-Aid lesson

Have you ever heard of the band-aid lesson?  Well today 60 of my students got to experience the band-aid lesson.    I provided each student with a post-it note and asked them to write an example of an injury that could possibly occur on the playground.  They did these silently so that they did not influence their classmates.  They came up with some very interesting and scary possibilities for injuries.  We even had a snake bite!  Once the students recorded their injury I called the students up by their number not their name and had them show me their post-it (with injury).  I review then injury, sometimes responded, and then placed a band-aid on their right hand.  No matter the injury or the student, they always received a band-aid on their right hand.  I ask the students to tell me what they noticed.  Several students responded that they were injured on their foot or their shoulder, but I placed a band-aid on their hand and that would really help their injury.  One student even pointed out that I called them up by number and that I didn't use their name, which made them feel like I didn't really care about them or their injury.  Needless to say, we had a great discussion about how everyone has different needs or injuries and that using a "fraction" band-aid may not help someone who has a "decimal" injury.  The students were very insightful and I am proud of their responses.  I truly have some great young men and ladies.