All posts by lspady

#38: STEAM Challenge: Cardboard Tubes

Full STEAM Ahead

Are you ready for a fun paper tube building challenge?  With just a few materials, you can create a cotton ball launcher.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your STEAM mini spark recording page: #38: STEAM Challenge: Cardboard Tubes

2. Watch this video. On your recording page write about what will be easy about the STEAM mini spark and what will be more challenging.

 

3. Read this step by step instructions on how to build the launcher. On your recording page explain if you liked the video instructions or the written instructions.

4. Collect your Materials. Ask the EY coordinator at your building for help getting supplies if needed.

  • Short pencil or popsicle stick
  • Thin rubber bands (2)
  • Cardboard tube (2 empty toilet paper tubes or empty paper towel tube cut in half)
  • Packing tape or other strong tape
  • Scissors
  • Cotton balls
  • Single hole punch

 

5. Take pictures of your supplies and add it to your recording page.

6. Use the video or teaching page from steps 2 and 3 as a guide and start building. Make sure to take pictures of your progress.

6. Test it out! If you need to make modifications, do so at this time.

7. Read this information. In this activity, you used two types of energy to load and launch your cotton ball. As you drew back on the pencil with the cotton ball loaded, you added potential energy to the system. The farther you pulled back on the pencil, the more potential energy was being stored. When you released the pencil, the potential energy became kinetic energy, and the cotton ball should have gone flying through the air!

8. Make a pic collage with the pictures from your project. Include the energy terms, information from step 7,  and definitions.

9. Add your pic collage to your recording page

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

Source: https://www.sciencebuddies.org/stem-activities/cotton-ball-launcher#instruction

2020-21 Weekly Challenge #7: Book Review and Tweet

Current Challenge

This week’s Weekly Challenge has you sharing a 60 second (or less) book commercial on Flip Grid for a book you’ve read or one that you’re currently reading.  Then, you can create a tweet from a character in your book using the Google Slides template linked below.

Step 1: Decide on a book you’ve read or have read in the past and create a 60 second (or less) commercial for it.  Record your commercial on Flip Grid using the link below.  All videos will be reviewed before they are made public.  If you DO NOT want your video posted on Flip Grid for others to see, please say, “No post” at the end of your video.

Flip Grid Link: https://flipgrid.com/2819c4ff

Step 2: Create a tweet from a character in your book using the template linked below.  Share the Google Slides template so that anyone within Westside Community Schools can view.  Copy the link and include it in your Flip Grid submission. Here is a guide for you to use to help with your tweet creation

Tweet  Creation Guide: 

https://docs.google.com/document/d/116lJm_xlXf3jaP22ST1jM2LRxud7DX72h_PDoYhzn04/copy

Tweet from a Character’s Point of View (Google Slides template): https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1FUbgm2iulqA84mFhPbc4xsMJrNzCAKUv_ol-JububMQ/copy

Math Counts Team (7th and 8th Grade)

MS Learning Opportunities

MATHCOUNTS provides engaging math programs to US middle school students of all ability levels to build confidence and improve attitudes about math and problem solving.

Check out these sample questions:

The WMS Math Counts Team is forming now!  If you’re interested, take the 10-question qualifying test linked below.  NOTE: You are not obligated to join the Math Counts Team if you take the qualifying test, however, there will be a prize for the top 3 scores on the test!

Take the qualifying test by Oct. 15 to be considered for the team and to be entered for the prize drawing!

Qualifying Test Link: https://forms.gle/f8KN6SpVy73sVymk8

Answers to Sample Problems: 5/16 and 3 1/2 hours

 

The Hardest Math Problem Student Contest (Grades 5-8)

MS Learning Opportunities, Other Events & Contests
The Hardest Math Problem Student Contest is an annual competition presented by Scholastic, The Actuarial Foundation, and the New York Life Foundation that challenges grades 6–8 students to solve multistep, grade-appropriate math problems with real-world situations and engaging characters. NOTE: 5th graders are eligible to participate by reaching to a higher grade level!
DETAILS:
  • Contact your EY Coordinator to get a copy of your grade level challenge question.  NOTE: All students are invited to take an extra challenge and submit entries at either their current grade level or above. They may submit one entry per question they are grade-eligible to answer. For example, a 5th grader may submit up to three entries, one each at the 6, 7, and 8 levels.
  • Students must provide a mathematically correct answer to a challenge in order to receive an invitation to compete in Challenge 2 with an even more difficult problem.
  • Entries Due Nov. 23.  Your EY Coordinator will submit your entry.

2020 Code Crush – 8th Graders Only

MS Learning Opportunities

Many of you have heard about Code Crush at UNO and now is the time to apply!  Applications are due October 4.

Details:
  • 8th and 9th-grade students from the Midwest who are interested in the future of Information Technology are invited to apply.
  • A teacher nomination is needed so contact Dr. Spady, Dr. Bolamperti, or Mrs. Shabram if you’re interested in applying.
  • The 2020 fall Code Crush experience will be held Nov. 5-7 and will be online.  Check out the link below for details.

https://codecrush.unomaha.edu/ImmersionExperience

Weekly Challenge #5 Highlights

Weekly Challenge Highlights

You were all so creative in your stop motion creations!

Our favorite was Emmett and Oliver’s Athena and Poseidon creation.  Check it out below!

Here are some of our other favorites!

Don’t stop creating!  Whether it’s another stop motion or a project from another Weekly Challenge, continue to share your work with your EY Coordinator and it might just show up on the blog!

2020-21 Weekly Challenge #6: Musical Glasses

Current Challenge

Musical glasses are a fun way to combine

Art, Math, Music & Science!

For this week’s weekly challenge, you’ll need a few materials.  Feel free to experiment with other materials you have at home as well.
  • 8 identical water glasses
  • water
  • a set of measuring cups
  • food coloring (optional)
  • 1 plastic spoon
  • 1 sheet of paper
  • Tape
  • pen/pencil

Instructions:

  1. Use a measuring cup to fill each of the glasses with the correct amount of water. Use the image below as a guide.
  2. For fun, you can add a drop of food coloring to your glasses or two drops to make green, orange, or purple.
  3. Label your glasses.  Use the image below as a guide.
  4. With a plastic spoon, gently tap each glass and listen for the sound it makes.
  5. Notice which glass makes a lower sound and a higher sound.
  6. Try playing these simple songs or create your own.

For your submission, you can make a video of yourself playing a song with your glasses or you can create a Pic Collage with pictures of your process.  You may also choose another creative way to display your learning.  Submit your work using the link below.

Submission Link: https://forms.gle/PsjGfsA2nVJXXc589

The SCIENCE behind the MUSIC

The science of sound is all about vibrations. When you hit the glass with the spoon, it vibrates and it’s these vibrations that ultimately make the sound. You probably noticed that tapping an empty glass produced a higher-pitched sound than tapping a glass full of water. Adding water to the glass dampens the vibrations created by striking the glass with a spoon. The less water in the glass, the faster the glass vibrates and the higher the pitch. The more water you add to the glass, the slower the glass vibrates, creating a lower pitch.

Activity adapted from Musical Water Glasses at https://www.connectionsacademy.com/resources/instructographics/music-water-glasses and https://www.stevespanglerscience.com/lab/experiments/pop-bottle-sounds/

NewzBrain Leaderboard

NewzBrain

Week of  August 30, 2021

Teacher in the Lead:
Student in the Lead:

Week of  May 3, 2020

Teacher in the Lead: Mrs. Johnson with a score of 340

Week of  March 22, 2020

Teacher in the Lead: Mrs. Johnson with a score of 300

Week of  March 1, 2020

Student in the Lead: Jake N. with a score of 250

Bakari O: 220

Teacher in the Lead:

Week of  Feb. 15, 2020

Student in the Lead: Jake N. with a score of 270
Teacher in the Lead: Mrs Johnson with a score of 360

Dr. Spady: 310

Week of  Feb. 8, 2020

Student in the Lead: Jake N. with a score of 300

Bakari O. with a score of 250

Teacher in the Lead: Mrs. Johnson with a score of 240

Week of  Feb. 1, 2020

Student in the Lead: Jake N. with a score of 260

Bakari O: 250

Teacher in the Lead: Mrs. Johnson with a score of 360

Week of Jan. 25, 2020

Student in the Lead: Bakari O. with a score of 230
Teacher in the Lead:  Mrs. Johnson with a score of 310

Week of Jan. 20, 2020

Student in the Lead: Sydney M. with a score of 310

Violet Y.: 240

Teacher in the Lead: Mrs. Johnson with a score of 270

Week of Jan. 11, 2020

Student in the Lead: Jake N. and Bakari O. with a score of 300
Teacher in the Lead:

Week of Jan. 8, 2020

Student in the Lead: Violet Y. and Bakari O. with a score of 260
Teacher in the Lead: Mrs. Johnson & Dr. Spady with a score of 300

Week of Dec. 14, 2020

Student in the Lead: Jake N. with a score of 340
Teacher in the Lead:

Week of Dec. 7, 2020

Student in the Lead: Bakari O with a score of 300

Jake N: 280

Teacher in the Lead: Mrs. Johnson with a score of 360

Dr. Spady: 290

Week of November 30, 2020

Student in the Lead:  Jake N. with a score of 330

Violet Y: 230

Bakari O: 210

Teacher in the Lead: Mrs. Sindt with a score of 340

Dr. Spady: 320

Mrs. Henningsen: 290

Mrs. Thompson: 280

Week of November 23, 2020

Student in the Lead:
Teacher in the Lead: Mrs. Sindt with a score of 350

Mrs. Johnson and Dr. Spady: 310

Mrs. Henningsen: 280

Mrs. Thompson: 270

Week of November 16, 2020

Student in the Lead: Jake N. with a score of 310

Violet Y: 220

Bakari O: 210

Teacher in the Lead: Dr. Spady with a score of 280

Week of November 9, 2020

Student in the Lead: Violet Y. and Leo K. with a score of 310

Bakari O: 280

Jake N: 260

Teacher in the Lead: Mrs. Johnson with a score of 320

Mrs. Limbach: 270

Dr. Spady: 260

Week of November 2, 2020

Student in the Lead: Jake N. with a score of 360

Violet Y.: 290

Teacher in the Lead: Mr. Wieczorek with a score of 360

Mrs. Painter & Dr. Spady with a score of 320

Mrs. Johnson: 300

Week of October 26, 2020

Student in the Lead: Leo K. with a score of 340

Jake N.: 260

Sidney M.: 230

Bakari O.: 210

Teacher in the Lead: Mrs. Shabram with a score of 310

Dr. Spady: 250

Week of October 19, 2020

Students in the Lead: Violet Y. with a score of 350

Jake N: 290

Bakari O: 260

Teacher in the Lead: Dr. Spady with a score of 340

Mrs. Shabram: 190

Week of October 12, 2020

Students in the Lead: Jake N. with a score of 180
Teacher in the Lead: Dr. Spady with a score of 280

Mrs. Shabram: 240

Week of October 5, 2020

Students in the Lead:  Eli BB. and BingYi W. with a score of 320

Leo K: 290

Jake N., Grant R., and Bakari O: 270

Addison T. and Bella G.: 240

Teacher in the Lead: Ms. Sherrill with a score of 350

Mr. O’Brien: 320

Mr. Horton: 310

Mrs. Case: 290

Mrs. Limbach: 270

Mrs. Shabram: 240

Mrs. Painter: 230

Dr. Spady: 200

Week of September 28, 2020

Student in the Lead:  Jake N. with a score of 310

Josh N. – 220

Bakari O. – 200

Teacher in the Lead: Mrs Shabram with a score of 320

Dr. Spady: 240

Week of September 21, 2020

Student in the Lead:  Leo K. with a score of 280
Teacher in the Lead: Dr. Spady with a score of 210

 

#3: Glue or Tape?

Science Mini Spark

The oldest glue in the world is over 8,000 years old and comes from a cave near the Dead Sea. Today, we have enough types of tape and glue to build and repair almost anything. But what gives glue and tape their stickiness? And is one stronger than the other?

Spark you thinking!

1. Set up your science mini spark recording page: #3: Glue or Tape?

2. Watch this video. Record at least 10 science words that you hear.

3. This is a vocabulary rich video. Create a mini dictionary with at least 8 terms and definitions to go along with the video.

4. Choose one project to complete

  • Write a short speech from the point of view of tape or glue explaining why it is better than the other.
  • Who invented Scotch Tape? Do some research to answer this question. Use at least 5 sentences.
  • Why would you want to use duct tape to hold a chain of bowling balls together instead of glue? Explain this using 5 sentences.
  • Make a list of all of the the types of tapes and glues that you know about. try to come up with at least 15. Don’t forget those made by nature.

5. Share your science mini spark recording page with your teacher/EY coordinator.

Source: https://ed.ted.com/lessons/which-is-stronger-glue-or-tape-elizabeth-cox#digdeeper