All posts by lspady

Weekly Challenge #1 Highlights

Uncategorized, Weekly Challenge Highlights

Wow! Over 80 mask submissions for our first Weekly Challenge!

Thank you all for submitting your fun, fashionable, functional and fitting mask designs for the first EY Weekly Challenge!  Each week, we will pick out a few of our favorites to highlight.

Calista from Loveland went the fashionable route for her mask.  Check out the reversible Halloween mask that her and friend Katie sewed themselves!
Whitney from Rockbrook sewed a mask with her Grandma.  The pleats make for a functional and comfortable fit!
Click here to see Whitney’s mask.
Logan from Loveland went the functional route with cooling fans and a zipper for eating and talking.

Alondra from WMS looks like she is on her way to a business opportunity with her mask design!

Ada from Loveland was resourceful in her design as she up-cycled a sock for her mask.
Thanks for checking out the highlights for Weekly Challenge #1!  Make sure to check back for the highlights of Weekly Challenge #2!

Early Enrichment #45 Improve Our School

Early Enrichment, Early Enrichment Badges

Design Challenge: Improve Our School

You will need to collect a small quantity of three types of materials .

Here are the items you will need

Your job is to imagine and build a prototype of something that will make our school a better place.

A prototype is a model that represents an idea. It does not have to be built to scale or actually work.

The purpose of the activity is to dream and imagine new solutions. 

You only have 10 minutes of work time. 

Afterward your timer goes off, make a pic collage and present your prototype and describe what they chose to build and why it will help our school.  Share your idea with your teacher. 

Post idea: Ann Gadzikowski

Do Space After School Club

Other Events & Contests

Starting August 24, Do Space  will be offering a 100% free After-School Club that will feature computer programming, coding, engineering, and other STEAM related activities!

  • Elementary After-School Club @ 4:35 PM Monday-Thursday (ages 6-10)
  • Middle School After-School Club @ 3:35 PM Monday-Thursday (ages 11-15)
Check out their website for more information: https://dospace.org/afterschool/

Westside Community Schools does not sponsor or endorse the organization or activity described in this material. The distribution of this material is provided as a community service.

 

https://dospace.org/afterschool/

#2: Shadow Science 

Science Mini Spark, Uncategorized

Learn about shadows, including what they are and how they form. Discover the way solid objects block light to form shadows and how shadows can change shape when the light source changes

Spark you thinking!

1. Set up your science mini spark recording page: #2: Shadow Science

2. How are Shadows formed? Watch this video. Record all of the vocabulary words tha pop up on your recording sheet. If it is a new word for you, write a short definition as well.

3. Shadow puppetry is the art of using the shadows of puppets to entertain the audience. Research this art form at Wonderopolis and make a fact page about its history. Add a picture of your project to your recording page.  

4. A long time ago, people observed the way shadows were formed by the sun and utilized this principle in making the world’s most primitive clocks, the sundials. Learn about sundials. Take notes about the process on your recording sheet.

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

Check out the Shadow Science Badge at the EY Website.

#1: How Glass is Made

Science Mini Spark

Ever wonder how glass is made? It’s like making a giant cookie: you mix sandy quartz with some lime and a sprinkle of sodium bicarbonate, then bake it in a super hot oven until it turns into a shiny, crunchy treat—just don’t eat it!

Spark you thinking!

1. Set up your science mini spark recording page: #1: How Glass is Made

2. Watch a video about glass from Mystery Doug. Take a 5 notes on your recording page as you watch.

3. Watch this animated step video about glass from Mocomi.

4. Draw a picture timeline or use pic collage showing several of the different glass making processes that were shown in the video. Include at least 3 science words in your visual.

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

source: https://mocomi.com/how-is-glass-made/

20-21: Weekly Challenge #1-Design A Mask

Current Challenge

Before reading further, did you remember to read the Weekly Challenge Info page first?

Masks are required in school and each day, more and more public places are requiring masks before you can enter.  Whether you agree with wearing a mask or not, if you have to wear one, it’s important to find something you like.

QUESTION: When it comes to wearing a mask, do you want it to be Fashionable? Functional? A good Fit?

For the 1st Weekly Challenge of the 2020-2021 School Year, please submit a design for a mask.

  • You can make a physical mask using materials you have at your house. Take a picture of the mask and/or you wearing the mask and upload & submit it using the Google Form link below.
  • You can draw your mask design on a piece of paper labeling the materials needed, parts of the mask, etc. Take a picture of your paper and upload & submit it using the Google Form link below.
  • You can use an application on a computer or iPad to design your mask. Export your project as a .pdf or picture file and upload & submit it using the Google Form link below.

Google Form Link: https://forms.gle/RzHSWDHtnonnRvFu7

Mask Image Source: https://pixabay.com/illustrations/mask-facemask-face-mask-cover-5323807/

#35: Olympic Medal Designer

Full STEAM Ahead, Mini Challenges

Every two years, a selection committee creates the medals that symbolize triumph at that year’s Olympic Games. They must adhere to certain guidelines while also having the creative freedom to design medals that reflect the true essence of the Olympics.

Spark your math thinking!

1. Set up your math mini spark recording page: #35: Olympic Medal Designer

2. Watch this video and record 5 ideas about the process of creating medals for the Olympics hosted in Japan on your recording sheet.

3. View the history of Olympic Medals.  Pick 3 different years and compare the medals from those years (designer, composition, diameter, and mint).  Display your findings in a creative manner and add a picture to your recording sheet.

4. Imagine you are part of the Olympic Medal Design committee! Design your own Olympic medal that pays tribute to the world’s top athletes in a distinctive manner. Answer these questions on your recording sheet

  • Which Olympic Games will your medal represent — an upcoming event or a fictional one?
  • Will you concentrate on the Summer or Winter Olympics?
  • Will you maintain the classic design features on one side of your medal, or will you opt for innovative concepts?
  • What figures, locations, or symbols will you choose to celebrate on the front of your medal?

5. Do some planning and research. Add ideas to your recording sheet

6. Design your medal on paper or digitally. Add a picture of your design to your recording page.

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

Idea adapted from https://kid-museum.org/maker-playground/olympic-medals/

#74 Fibonacci Fun

Learning Opportunities, Math Mini Sparks

The Fibonacci Sequence

1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89, 144

What do these numbers have in common? What pattern do you see? These numbers are a part of what is known as the fibonacci numbers. Fibonacci numbers are found by adding the two previous numbers. So the number after 144 would be 233. The Fibonacci Sequence is a simple sequence of numbers that anyone can learn!

Spark your math thinking!

  1. Set up your math mini spark recording page: #74 Fibonacci Fun
  2. “Too much of the mathematics we learn in school is not effectively motivated.” ~Mathemagician Arthur Benjamin. Watch his TED Video about the Magic of Fibonacci Numbers. Take notes on your recording page.

3. Watch this Numberphile video about Random Fibonacci Numbers.  Take notes on your recording page.

4. Then, try the activity he explains in the video using a coin. Record your project.  My sons Toby and Trevor and I recorded ourselves doing the activity here:

 

5. Read about the Fibonacci Sequence at Math is Fun. Recording 3 details on your recording page.

6. Create a interesting way to show what you have learned from this math mini spark. Add it to your recording page.

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