The Big Finale!

We celebrated our last day together with some fun culminating activities.  Students competed in a QuizetLive review game to earn first pick at supplies for the edible kinetic contraption challenge.  We then had fun racing our cucumbermobiles and rice crispy cruisers.

We also spent some time developing our own number system based on elements of those we haves studied this year.  Students shared the ideas and let their friends attempt to decode their own personal "Moli Stones".  We also went back to our pretest from the beginning of the year to reflect on our learning.

Students had fun looking back at our blog and creating their own ALERT Top 5 presentations to show their year in review highlights!

I will certainly miss this wonderful group!  I am so proud of all they have accomplished, their love of learning, and the community they have built with each other.

Riddle Me This

Spontaneous Problem: Create your own Spontaneous Problem prompts.
Boundary Breaker: Which peer created spontaneous problem should we use next week?  Convince the class to vote on your favorite.

We were back to the design board today as our inventor used supplies to create motion in their free rolling carts.  We began by reading the article "What Makes Things Move" and brainstorming possible triggers for kinetic motion in our go carts.

Our Habit of Mind focus was on Thinking Flexibly.  We tried to use our out of the box thinking to solve some tricky riddles, which was right up this group's alley!  Try this one: Put a coin in a bottle and then stop the opening with a cork. How can you get the coin out of the bottle without pulling out the cork or breaking the bottle? 

For math, second graders finished up our sums and differences in hieroglyphics work and third graders applied their knowledge of expanded notation to translate and write numbers in ancient Chinese.

Going for Distance

Spontaneous Problem: Name things that cause motion.
Boundary Breaker: Explain this quote: "A design isn't finished until somebody is using it." -Brenda Laurel

Today we spent the morning with both second and third graders reviewing and wrapping up their previous work in math with a lesson check-up.  This let us begin our math time on fresh topics. Second graders considered the number system of Ancient Egypt and their use of hieroglyphics.  They did some decoding, adding, and subtracting with the symbols and made comparisons between that system and ours.  They discovered that without place value, it is a lot more work to write most Egyptian numbers that our own.  Third graders took a look at the Chinese expanded notation system. This system  brought us back to the mysterious writing on the Moli Stone.  Next week,  students will be able to use a newly discovered tablet to help them decode the artifact.

We also revisited our design work, using materials to create a free rolling cart.  Students got to test their work in a downhill race and brainstorm solutions to any difficulties their carts encountered.   Next week we will see if we can improve our designs by adding a self-propelling factor.

 

Our Habit of Mind focus today was on Applying Past Knowledge to New Situations.  Students read the poem, "Too Long at the Park" and used it to make their own poems showing connection to circumstances where they have discovered lessons they could apply to future experiences.  We also used our creativity to come up with examples for popular cartoon heroes and create our own matching games with the characters and knowledge they gained. See if you can pair up these examples!

Tom and Jerry	You can’t build a fire underwater.
Captain Hook	Don’t challenge flying boys to a duel.
Buzz Lightyear	Summer isn’t good for snowmen.
Superman	Stay in your own game.
Alice in Wonderland	That mouse is too smart, leave him alone.
Olaf	Don’t give up on your friends.
Sponge Bob	Don’t chase that rabbit!
Wreck-it Ralph	Toys don’t like toys that show off.
Emmett from The Lego Movie	Stay away from Kryptonite.
Poppy from Trolls	Be original.

Go Carts!

Spontaneous Problem: Name things you would want a robot to do for you.
Boundary Breaker: Interpret the meaning of this quote: "The best way to predict the future is to invent it" - Allan Kay

Today we wrapped up our black box investigation by answering reflection questions and comparing group models to help us land on a scientific consensus.  We then moved to looking at models and design in the development of the automobile.  Students read the article " Early Autos" to learn the history of their development.  They then began the design of their own free rolling go carts that they will revise and race in coming weeks.

Our Habit of Mind focus today was on striving for accuracy and precision.  Students followed detailed steps to complete a calculator magic trick landing them on the digits of their birthday.

Second graders played the game Race in Base.  They used the game cards to make trades in base 10 and then in base 3.  By playing both versions of the game, students were able to draw comparisons between the two systems.

Third graders used Egyptian hieroglyphics to calculate sums and differences and explored difficulties stemming from a system that does not have a symbol for zero.

We also got to spend some time reflecting on our field study experiences and practicing in our brain stretcher packet.

Discovery Place

We had an amazing day with this great crew at Discovery Place!  We began with a computer programming class where students set their robots to accomplish various challenges and follow their commands!  In our catapults class, we learned about the laws of motion and got to design our own launching devices.  Exploring the museum, students were able to explore many simple machines in the Cool Stuff lab.  They also had the chance to experience virtual reality, learn some ancient history, and get their hands wet in the aquarium.  They were all impressed with the IMAX experience which fit perfectly with our archaeology focus from earlier in the year.  They also enjoyed the live performance of "Zapped"  where they got to meet Thomas Edison and Nikola Tesla and learn about their inventions in the field of electric current.

 

Take 17

Spontaneous Problem:  Name things that make work easier.
Boundary Breaker: What is something that you think will not exist in 20 years?  Why will it be unnecessary and what will take its place?

Today student took their conceptual black box models and built them into physical models to test. As they gathered more information from their prototypes, they drafted new versions of the model to build. They collaborated and compared models with classmates, honed their senses as observers, and demonstrated persistence on their many attempts!

We took some time for self reflection and goal setting and also review expectations and details for our upcoming Discovery Place field study.

Second graders practiced subtraction and regrouping in base 3 as well as how to read numbers and covert between systems!

Black Boxes

Spontaneous Problem: Name things that go back and forth
Boundary Breaker:  Students watched a short video about predictions for technology in the future. They responded with any potential problems they saw for the devices or society as a whole adapting to the new developments.

We practiced the Habit of Mind Listening to Other with Understanding and Empathy by using the video to discuss the coolest/most important technology shown.  Groups took up roles as speaker, listener, and evaluator as they practice whole body listening and received feedback.

Next we reviewed our observations and inferences lesson from last week as students collected qualitative and quantitative data for our dancing raisin experiment.  Students then made inferences about the objects them selves and their interactions.  They used prior knowledge to conclude that the wrinkled brown objects were raisins being lifted by the bubbles in the carbonation until they popped and sunk again.

We also went back to our discussion of models as students looked at their actual black boxes and drew they conceptional models for what they thought was inside.  Groups with the same boxes then paired to share ideas and update their designs as they found new information.  They will continue on this investigation as they turn their conceptual models into physical ones and continue to update their theories and designs.  We also read the article "Scientists and Models" and were able to discuss how the same process was and is being used to continually revise our understanding of the black box that is the solar system.

We also had a little time for students to dive into some brain stretchers of their choice.

Second grade math time was spent visiting the Land of Treble where they use a base 3 number system. Students practiced making trades among their place values and played a dice game to be the first player to reach 1 Trickle!

For third grade math, we jumped in to exploring the Egyptian numeration system.  Students discussed the use of symbols and got to work decoding amounts with their knowledge of hieroglyphics.  They compared our place value system with that of the Egyptians where the order of symbols does not effect the value of the number.