All posts by Jenny Henningsen

#34: Animal Robots

Full STEAM Ahead, Uncategorized,

While the word “robot” can conjure up an image of a cyborg human with lights for eyes and super powers, animal-inspired robots are accomplishing tasks in all kinds of medical, military and rescue work. These anibots perform tasks that would be difficult and often dangerous for mere mortals, or even human droids, to accomplish

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your STEAM mini spark recording page: #34: Animal Robots

2.   Pneupard is a robot that is designed to be agile and fast like cheetahs and other cats. Pneupard has artificial muscles made from rubber tubing that are covered in nylon and filled with air. The pneumatic muscles have lifelike skills that allow the bot to replicate the range of motion and strength of a real cat!

3. On your recording sheet define Pneupard.

4. Watch this video about Pneupard. Record 5 details from the video on your recording page.

5. Answer the following questions.

  • How are these engineers using robots to learn about nature?
  • Why are cheetah’s ultra complex to recreate?
  • What did the engineers learn when the were in the park
  • What animal would you choose to recreate as a robot? What part or parts of this animal would be ultra complex to recreate?

6. One modern robot flier is called ornithopter. Ornithopter looks and flies much like a real bird. One sweet little ornithopter is used as a nano-spybot, equipped with a tiny camera.

7. On your recording sheet define ornithopter.

8. Watch this video about Ornithopter and write a summary of the video on your recording page.

9. On your recording page, answer these questions.

  • What materials are used to make this robot?
  • What other material come to mind that might work?
  • Have you ever seen a servo motor? If not where else might it be used? If you have seen one, what was its purpose?
  • What is visually interesting to you about this robot? What woud you change?

10. Share your STEAM mini spark recording page with your teacher/EY coordinator.

#39: It’s All About the Heart

Reading Enrichment

For many years, the heart was a mystery.  What did it do?  What was it there for?  Let’s learn all about this muscle.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your language arts mini spark recording page: #39: It’s All About the Heart

2. This TED-Ed lesson will help you investigate how the heart keeps you alive. Record 5 details from the video on your recording page.

3. Years ago, people thought emotions came from the heart!  Read this article to find out more about how the heart works. Record 3-5 facts that you did not already know.

4. Choose one of these prompts and respond with 3-5 sentences.

  • What are some ways to keep your heart healthy?
  • What are the four chambers of the heart called, and what does each chamber do?
  • Why was it so difficult for scientists and doctors to figure out what the heart was for?

5. Share your language arts mini spark recording page and visual with your teacher/EY coordinator.

 

#38: The Mystery of the Upside-Down Catfish

Reading Enrichment

Learn about the interesting Upside-Down Catfish by completing this reading mini spark.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your language arts mini spark recording page: #38:The Mystery of the Upside-Down Catfish

2. Watch video about the upside down catfish. Record a few parts of the script that you thought were interesting.

3. Respond with 3-4 sentences for each prompt.

  • Using many details, explain why an upside-down catfish swims upside-down.
  • How does this fish use camouflage?
  • What part of the video was most interesting to you and why?

4. Share your language arts mini spark recording page with your teacher/EY coordinator.

#30: Make Slime

Full STEAM Ahead, Learning Opportunities, Mini Challenges

 Slime is a fun way to study science. Check out this mini spark to learn about the science behind slime. Then check out the Slime Science badge to make your own slime.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your STEAM mini spark recording page: #30: Make Slime

2. Watch this video about making slime.  Take notes on your recording sheet while you watch.

3. Using the information from the video, create a quiz for other kids to play. You can use kahoot or google slides. Include at least 10 questions and include the answers as well.

4. Share your STEAM mini spark recording page and your slime quiz with your teacher/EY coordinator.

Make slime using the Slime Science Badge at the EY Website.

#29: Bitsbox 1-Get Started

Full STEAM Ahead, Uncategorized

In this STEAM mini spark you will learn how to sign in to Bitsbox and how to code your own app, food fight.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your STEAM mini spark recording page:#29: Bitsbox 1-Get Started

2. Watch this intro video.   Write the first line of code that you will type when creating the app food fight.

3. Copy these instructions on your recording sheet.

4. Click this link to get to bitsbox or go to www.bitsbox.com and follow the instructions from step 3 to get logged in.

5.  Click on the food fight icon and follow the written instructions step-by-step to code the whole app. Take a screenshot of your app and add it to your recording page.

6. Now, modify  your app it with your own stamp, text, and colors.

7. Take a picture of your new app and add it to your recording sheet.

8. Share your STEAM mini spark recording page with your teacher/EY coordinator.

Check out the bitsbox badge on the EY website.

#54: Bitsbox 2-Code an App

Full STEAM Ahead, Mini Challenges

In this STEAM mini spark you will watch how to code an app at Bitsbox and code your own apps. You will learn about the text and stamp commands and as how to work with coordinates.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your STEAM mini spark recording page:#54: Bitsbox 2-Code an App

2. Watch this intro video.  On your recording page, record 5 coding terms from the video.

3. Click this link to get to bitsbox or go to bitsbox.com. Click kids sign in on the top right, then click the sign in with google button to get to your tablet.

4. Click this link to get to a few free coding projects provided by Bitsbox. If you would like, you can print them out.

5. Click the new app button. and then add in the 4 digit code on the coding card.

6. Code 1 or 2 of the projects. Take a screenshot of your code and add it to your recording page.

7. Share your STEAM mini spark recording page with your teacher/EY coordinator.

Check out the Bitsbox badges at the EY website.

#28: Rocket Launcher

Full STEAM Ahead, Learning Opportunities, Mini Challenges

National STEAM day is celebrated on November 8, but you can create STEAM all year long! Check out this rocket launcher experiment that you can do to celebrate the national day dedicated to Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your STEAM mini spark recording page: #28: Rocket Launcher

2. Watch this video. Write down the materials you will need on your recording page

3. Collect the materials you need. Contact the EY coordinator in your building via email if you need help with this step. Add a picture of of your supplies to your recording page.

4. Go back to step 2 and rewatch this video while you are working.

4. Take pictures from your experiment and add them to your recording page.

5. Take a video of your rocket launcher.

6. On your recording page, create a one paragraph summary about your project.

7. Share your STEAM mini spark recording page and your video with your teacher/EY coordinator.

Check out the DIY superstar badge on the EY website

Post adapted from https://projectmc2.mgae.com/#/experiments

#37: Create Your Own National Day

Reading Enrichment

Everyday can be a celebration. Did you know that November 3rd is national sandwich day, December 7th is national letter writing day and January  7th is national bobblehead day?

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your language arts mini spark recording page: #37: Create Your Own National Day

2. Look over this teaching page. On your recording sheet, write about each of the highlighted days, the history, and how it is celebrated.

3. What day do feel deserves to add to the list of national celebrations? Pickle day?  It’s observed on November 15. How about National fuzzy sock day? Wear your cozy socks and keep your feet toasty warm all day long. People celebrate this day on December 21st!  Look over this national day list and find 5 more funny days that are national days.

 

4. What would be a day that you would LOVE to celebrate? Start brainstorming to think of a special day that you would like added to the calendar that is not already observed. Make a list of 5-10 days.

5. Choose your very favorite day from the list you created. Create a colorful information page about your day. Include this information:

The name of your day

3-5 facts about your topic

How can people celebrate this day?

Add color and illustrations to your project.

6. Read about the process of how to formally submit your national day idea to be selected as a “National Day of Celebration”. What information is most important to know about the process.

7. Share your language arts mini spark recording page and project with your teacher/EY coordinator.

#38: Celebration Days

Early Enrichment, Uncategorized

Everyday can be a celebration. Did you know that November 3rd is national sandwich day, December 7th is national letter writing day and January 7th is national bobblehead day?

Spark your thinking!

  1. Set up your language arts mini spark recording page: #38: Celebration Days
  2. Look over this teaching page. On your recording sheet, write about each of the highlighted days,  its history, and how it is celebrated.
  3. What day do you feel deserves to add to the list of national celebrations? Pickle day? It’s observed on November 15. How about National fuzzy sock day? It’s a day people celebrate on December 21st! What would be a day that you would LOVE to celebrate? Start brainstorming. Create a list of 10 days that you would enjoy having as special days on the calendar.
  4. Choose your very favorite day from the list you created. Create a colorful information page about your day. Include this information:

The name of your day

3-5 facts about your topic

How can people celebrate this day?

Do research to find out if your day is already celebrated. If so, add that date to your project.

  1. Read about the process of how to formally submit your national day idea for review. 
  2. Share your project with your teacher or the EY coordinator in your building.

#36: 6 Ways to Start a Sentence

Reading Enrichment

Know what you want to write but aren’t sure where to start? These sentence prompts will help. Remember these 6 openings and you can write anything you want

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your language arts mini spark recording page: #36: 6 Ways to Start a Sentence 

2. Watch this video and take notes on your recording page for each of the ideas.

3.  This is an article on this same topic. Read the article, 5 tips, and the example paragraphs. Write down 5 new ideas.

4. On your recording page write a 6 sentence paragraph about a topic of your choice.  Use a different strategy for each sentence. Underline each beginning with a different color.

5. Share your language arts mini spark recording page and poem with your teacher/EY coordinator.