LEGOS for Education-Simple Machines

Each year FUTURES Foundation allows teachers to apply for mini-grants to support programs in the classroom. Simple machines is a unit within our science curriculum.  After some research Lego Education produces kits with step by step directions creating a variety of builds using collaboration, problem-solving and teamwork. Partners again were programmers and builders and switched half way through the steps. This allowed students opportunity to learn the pieces, where they were located, and where to put them when finished.  It is important to have procedures in place when working with Legos. 

Things I learned to have procedures for: 

• How to store the Legos
• where to store the Legos and the building manuals
• taking off the lid-without the pieces flying everywhere
• building in the lid to contain the pieces
• only taking the top tray out when retrieving a piece from the bottom 
• programmer uses the book and gets the pieces for the builder
• builder can ask for help at any time and work together
• switch roles halfway through the building steps

Our 45 minute class sessions went by so quickly and they students begged for more time.  We started with vocabulary clock-wise, counter clock-wise, rods, 2x3, flats, cranks, etc. I would leave them with a question to find out during the build. They needed to talk to one another to have an answer and demonstrate the concept of the build. Once they called me over they could add to the build and even experiment by trading gear sizes or extending pieces. There were so many "Aha!" moments I got to see from the most amazing students. I am so grateful we have organizations like FUTURES Foundation that provide the means of having these experiences for our students. Sofia Walker co-wrote the grant with me and all of 3rd grade benefited from the materials and lessons. She is the BEST!!

Are you better at follow directions or giving directions?

Along the same lines of using tangrams I tried an unplugged activity with our 2nd through 5th grades. While visiting the LEGO store at Disney Springs I was able to buy a container of  selected LEGOS. I bought pieces in sets of 15 so I could make at least 15 bags and maybe even a few in case they were lost. I would put the same pieces in each bag and have 1 master model.  Partners were then asked if they were better builders or programmers? See programming is a set of directions or steps to follow.  After rock, paper, scissors one partner got to pick builder or programmer.


I held the master copy and the programmer was allowed to look and touch the master model as many times as they needed while they told the builder what and how to build, BUT could not touch any of the pieces. Probably the toughest part for the students. The builders were to follow the programmer's directions and when they thought it was done they could check it against the master.

 With the second grades I used fewer pieces which made for a less complicated master model.

Here are some 5th grader programmers and builders.

Everyone was engaged and when we were done we took them apart and I had a different model while they switched roles. We had a breakout session at the end of pros and cons.  It was interesting listening to them give their perspective. Oh and for the 2nd one they had to give directions without using color words. Yes it was a bit tougher. Great learning experience to see how detailed directions needed to be and patience for the builder. It was interesting to see which programmers needed more time with the master model. Some didn't tough it at all where other students literally had to walk over step by step to give building instructions.

Thank you Mystery Science...

A friend years back bragged about Mystery Science website. I checked it out and if you have heard the voice-"Hi, it's Doug." You know we are in for an adventure. Since I work with all students kindergarten to fifth grade I get a bit excited when it comes to hands on and standards related. EVERY single unit I have used has been informative and fun for the students.

Traditionally our 4th graders struggle with rocks, weathering and erosion. Mystery Science has a unit entitled the Birth of Rocks for 4th grade.  It starts with the question Could a volcano pop up in your backyard? Doug weaves a story to provide photos and an interactive activity of plotting volcanos in regions around the world. As the maps come together...well you will need to do it to find out.

We go on to discover various volcanos and their differences.

Who says science isn't fun?

These students are interacting with one another and having a blast learning about thin vs. thick lava.

The next lesson had us all shaking...

If you haven't tried Mystery Science you need to. I subscribe each year and it is well worth the $. I will write more on some of the other lessons that ended up being our favorites over the years. They are constantly adding and improving so sign up today.

Tangrams in STEM?

I used tangrams in the classroom along side Grandfather Tang's Story. I loved watching the students make the animal shapes. I told them the legend of tangrams and how on the way to meet the Emperor the tile fell and broke into 7 pieces. 

I did all that for years and then I learned about the importance of spacial awareness while attending Thinking Math training.  Our trainer gave us the pieces and asked can you take 2 smaller triangles and make a larger triangle? Can you take 2 triangles and make a square? Can you take 2 triangles to make a rhombus? The 2 large triangles make half of a square. Use the other 5 pieces to make a perfect square. 

The value of all this? Using shapes in this manner at early grades contributes to the development of perseverance, perception and visualization. picturing things in space helps handwriting and distinguishing between letters such as "b" and "d." Upper grades may use the square to have students help figure out what fractional part of the square each tangram piece is.

CCE students are in the video making shapes using tangrams. It is not easy for all students but to see them try to reason and manipulate them is telling. It was really eye opening to see the 4-5th graders make the square. One interesting thing I saw was a student place the pieces on top of the 2 large triangles that made half the square. The student moved them around until they fit on top and then flipped them over to make the other half of the square. 

Text Speak?

When I heard the phrase Text Speak, I wondered if it was really a thing?  I have two teenagers and they are constantly texting rather than talking on the phone for hours like I did when I was growing up.  All that texting do they use correct grammar and spelling? We have heard of shortcuts and acronyms the kids are using but is there a time to use text speak appropriately?  4th grade was the lucky grade level to use this lesson.  They were all to ready to talk about their texting habits and routines.  There are benefits to using text speak according to the students. It is shorter, friends understand what they mean, and quicker than a phone call.  We broke into groups to discuss when grammar and text speak are appropriate.

As you can see school was the main reason to use grammar while social media  used text speak.

They talk to one another on video games like Fortnite, Minecraft and Roblox with shortened messages as to not interfere with their playing time.

Glad to see letters, business conversations, homework, emails made the grammar list.  There were a few giggles when we talked about shortening words like OMG and they knew not to use those in writing at school. Our next lesson was to see how well did they really know text speak?  I made a Kahoot and it was surprising to hear their thoughts when we were done.  Everyone knew BFF but very few knew what RSVP stood for but knew they had seen that somewhere before.  Most students used their phones-yes phones in the 4th grade to text one another. Others used iPads and computers to talk to one another during games.  The most interesting thing we found was the highest scoring students on the Kahoot did not have a phone to text friends. When asked why they thought they did so well, one said he reads the text conversations when his friends "talk" but doesn't really text back in the conversation. Interesting because it made me think about all the time I spent reading tweets before I actually made my first tweet onTwitter.  I was nervous and was almost learning a new language.  I was quite surprised how much social media these 4th graders were exposed to and interact with on a regular basis.  There are articles stating text speak is harming our student's writing skills with incorrect spellings, poor grammar, and incomplete thoughts. I think it is an important lesson to have with our 4th and 5th grades as productive digital citizens as there are valid reasons to use either. How do you feel about text speak and does it have a place in our classroom instruction?

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Keyboarding is for everyone

I wanted #CCEstem to include technology for everyone K-5. To be honest the first year there were so many apps I taught in my 1st grade classroom that I wanted to share with the rest of the school so I used them in a variety of ways. Then I started to think there has to be a sequence and I needed to develop one for the grades. Our school district uses Microsoft and Office 365 products.  I wanted 3rd grade to use Word and 4th graders use PowerPoint and 5th graders to use Excel.  I thought those are the BIG topics but where and how do I get there? Typing and keyboarding weren't taught and they needed the skills so I set upon finding resources to use to teach what I so took for granted.

Thankfully we had a CTE learning group that I became a part of and soaked up every thing they were doing in their classroom.  We had meetings in each others' rooms and I took photos.  I wanted to learn how they were planning to make their students successful using technology. Years ago we could auto log in students with a generic password but that process went away and students had to learn an alpha code and their 8 digit birthday to log in to any computer on campus. Yes the imagine of 20 kindergarteners trying to find letters on a keyboard, yelling where is the 1? and timing out because they could not find the keys quick enough. I learned the hard way that does not work. You need to model and practice and find activities that are engaging and interactive for them to learn and practice with a partner before they go solo.

YIP skip I found Brittany Washburn's large keyboards. My mom helped cut out letter cards and arrange all the velcro dots. Whether you have 2nd graders or kinders this was a puzzle to put together and they loved racing one another. We could even do it as a quick start or end to my lesson when we had time. I made sure to have a few extras for the students that wanted to work by themselves even. I noticed it helped with our ELL learners as well to learn the names of letters and where they were on the keyboard.  

 Yes, that is B. Washburn's giant keyboard on the wall that I reference often.

 These keyboards were an unplugged activity to help students learn so we could move to the ipads and laptops to use Typetastic! Hands down one of the students favorite things to do and it is free for students and teachers to use! These kidners are using Typetastic and I know I have more photos to upload. Typetastic gives a game like format starting from piecing the keyboard back together to problem solving to find letters on the keyboard to working with and training home rows keys. Did I mention the kids cheer when there is time for Typetastic?!? I will tell you one VERY helpful hint use 1 ipad and Air Drop Typetastic to each ipad in the room. *You will need to teach them how to press Accept and not Decline but wow what a time saver-not having to type Typetastic out or them for that matter. You will need to click Start Learning at the top> then K-2 Elementary> Unit 1.  They should start at Unit 1-level 1 because they are multi-level and it does get harder as you move along. Soon I would allow 1st grade to select from level 1-2-or 3. Level 5 Ducky Trouble is tough but end of 1st graders can figure it out to be successful. Unit 2 moves to working with Home Row keys and 2n grade gets to this level and become experts.  Besides being free and fun, Typetastic works on laptops-touchscreen or traditional or iPads. The students want to use it at home and I do have it marked on my class Google Site. More to come on keyboarding and tips to help that I learned along the way...

Favorite Apps to Show Learning

Teaching First grade was so the best! Watching them learn and soak it all in filled my teacher heart. I am not going to lie and say teaching content and teaching technology was easy but it can be done. The results are something I shared with other teachers to try to get them on board and some did while others were a bit intimidated.  That is all understandable because no one wants to look like they don't know what they are doing, me included. I found the students had no fear and learned by sharing with one another. I learned from them and ran around to take photos that have been on my phone, in my Google Photos, and in the cloud for 5 years!!! I have to write and get these photos out for others to share or dare I say be inspired.  How many of you have taken and then they stay there and no one gets to see them?

Learning about penguins was all the rage with our leveled readers. Students were to take pictures with the camera and use Pic Collage to add information about penguins.

Some students used Popplet to showcase their learning. We used semantic mapping quite a bit to show what we knew before an area of study so they were familiar with the format.