Our study started with learning about hurricanes and the different levels. Next came the challenge to build a shelter to keep your family dry with limited materials with some choice. I introduced the materials with a $ amount attached to each. We formed groups to then brainstorm ideas of shelters but wait there was a budget of only $10. Collaboration in groups was an experience for the students. It is sometimes difficult to show your diagram to others, share thoughts behind the design, and then decide which pieces of each you will use for building. This is a process and teaching the students to go through this process takes time. Each grouping is different so there lies another opportunity to learn from another and grow as STEM student. I love watching the students grow throughout the years. Building seems to be the most fun time for students. They are eager to put their plans into action! Materials are flying off the carts and out of the boxes. Teaching students how to use tape is something I learned early on in teaching STEM. I cannot tell you the number of times A student has used a 4 inch piece of tape to then apply in vertically rather than horizontal and waste tape. Some projects I limit the tape but this build I did not. Students could opt for wax paper, aluminum foil and color paper but those priced were for individual sheets.
Showing posts with label cardboard. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cardboard. Show all posts
Saturday, August 22, 2020
Shelter Building
Hurricane Season is a very real thing here in Florida! My parents lost their house to Hurricane Andrew while my brother and I were at Florida State University. It was devastating to see what a hurricane can do to a home, a family, and a community. There are so many things that are different for Floridians after Hurricane Andrew. I am sure STEM careers has something to do with that right?
Our study started with learning about hurricanes and the different levels. Next came the challenge to build a shelter to keep your family dry with limited materials with some choice. I introduced the materials with a $ amount attached to each. We formed groups to then brainstorm ideas of shelters but wait there was a budget of only $10. Collaboration in groups was an experience for the students. It is sometimes difficult to show your diagram to others, share thoughts behind the design, and then decide which pieces of each you will use for building. This is a process and teaching the students to go through this process takes time. Each grouping is different so there lies another opportunity to learn from another and grow as STEM student. I love watching the students grow throughout the years. Building seems to be the most fun time for students. They are eager to put their plans into action! Materials are flying off the carts and out of the boxes. Teaching students how to use tape is something I learned early on in teaching STEM. I cannot tell you the number of times A student has used a 4 inch piece of tape to then apply in vertically rather than horizontal and waste tape. Some projects I limit the tape but this build I did not. Students could opt for wax paper, aluminum foil and color paper but those priced were for individual sheets.
Well maybe the testing is the BEST part...To meet the challenge was to keep the family dry. Things to think about were yes you needed a roof but a floor for your shelter? way in and out? what materials to use? They knew I would use a watering can to create a "hurricane". I know the wind was missing but we talked about how that would look as well. I do have some videos of the moments when we soaked the shelters. The reflection piece is what I should have filmed so you could see and hear their learning and maybe just maybe one of them will create something to help families during hurricane season.
Our study started with learning about hurricanes and the different levels. Next came the challenge to build a shelter to keep your family dry with limited materials with some choice. I introduced the materials with a $ amount attached to each. We formed groups to then brainstorm ideas of shelters but wait there was a budget of only $10. Collaboration in groups was an experience for the students. It is sometimes difficult to show your diagram to others, share thoughts behind the design, and then decide which pieces of each you will use for building. This is a process and teaching the students to go through this process takes time. Each grouping is different so there lies another opportunity to learn from another and grow as STEM student. I love watching the students grow throughout the years. Building seems to be the most fun time for students. They are eager to put their plans into action! Materials are flying off the carts and out of the boxes. Teaching students how to use tape is something I learned early on in teaching STEM. I cannot tell you the number of times A student has used a 4 inch piece of tape to then apply in vertically rather than horizontal and waste tape. Some projects I limit the tape but this build I did not. Students could opt for wax paper, aluminum foil and color paper but those priced were for individual sheets.
Thursday, June 29, 2017
Top 10 for 2016-2017
Well that school year flew right by...
I decided to maybe do a Top 10 of my absolute favorite STEM activities from the year, after all I have like 9,000 photos saved on my phone. Yes, you read that correctly 9,000 photos. New plan Top 10 for the last 10 months and we start with September. So take a wild ride these next few weeks as I catch you up on the BEST year ever...being the STEM Special Area teacher for Cypress Creek Elementary.
After talking about being a digital citizen and getting to know one another the first few weeks the 1st challenge was posed to the intermediate students. They had to make a crayon organizer out of available materials. We needed to have a common definition of organized and what better way that Kahoot! It was so much fun showing various pictures and hearing the oh my! and what? when the kids saw them and had to decide is it organized or not. After that students were given list of available materials and the planning started.
How big was the organizer going to be? How would it organize the crayons? What about color pencils? How would you decorate? maybe label? oh the possibilities were endless.
Since we only have 35 minutes it took a few sessions but the results were amazing! More to come on that. One of the materials was toilet tubes and from he donations received my trusty assistant made sure they were all cleaned up for the students. Isn't she just the best ever! The kids love having her volunteer every Wednesday and she absolutely has the BEST time with the kindergarten kiddos.
The primary students took part in #globalcardboardchallenge One of my favorite teachers, Amy Spies introduced me to Caine's Arcade. Caine is an exceptional young man that used problem solving, creativity and perseverance to make the world a better place. If you have a moment watch:
The challenge was to make something, anything out of cardboard and the wheels were turning from the word go. Ethan was on a mission. He wanted 26 pieces of cardboard and Ahma was on duty to help cut those pieces of cardboard.
I decided to maybe do a Top 10 of my absolute favorite STEM activities from the year, after all I have like 9,000 photos saved on my phone. Yes, you read that correctly 9,000 photos. New plan Top 10 for the last 10 months and we start with September. So take a wild ride these next few weeks as I catch you up on the BEST year ever...being the STEM Special Area teacher for Cypress Creek Elementary.
After talking about being a digital citizen and getting to know one another the first few weeks the 1st challenge was posed to the intermediate students. They had to make a crayon organizer out of available materials. We needed to have a common definition of organized and what better way that Kahoot! It was so much fun showing various pictures and hearing the oh my! and what? when the kids saw them and had to decide is it organized or not. After that students were given list of available materials and the planning started.
The challenge was to make something, anything out of cardboard and the wheels were turning from the word go. Ethan was on a mission. He wanted 26 pieces of cardboard and Ahma was on duty to help cut those pieces of cardboard.
Finished product: a set of alphabet cards and he was so proud of them. Ethan is a kindergartener with a little sister and I know those cards were put to good use. I was so impressed with his will and determination through the whole process. It was going to be an amazing year.
Cypress Creek has PLC weekly for teachers to meet, learn, and collaborate which gives special are an extra 20 minutes with each grade level. I had a buddy that let me borrow a set of Build to Express kits and I am telling you it turned out the be the BEST thing ever! The kids loved building, creating, talking, sharing, and groaned when it was time for "diassemble and clean-up."
Seriously this smile is worth a million LEGOS right?
Caleb loves our custodial staff. He is the most helpful young man and created a scene of custodians. I couldn't wait to share it with Mr. Gerry and Ms. Lori. You never know the impression you leave with a young one.
Back to the crayon organizers and cardboard challenge, it was a workshop of materials, movement, and you could feel the energy. The students were impressive with their thinking, their willingness to help one another, and their creativity. Cameron wanted to create an arcade game to score points by throwing a ball. Aha got in on the action and it was so cute.
Cameron's next steps are to add point labels and he has some work to do. One thing I learned quickly was storage! Where was I going to store crayon organizers and cardboard projects for all these students. Just a glimpse into the storage room.
The T is STEM is for technology so where is the technology? Up comes Goformative and it is a game changer. I need to do a whole write up to give it justice. So make sure to check back.
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