All posts by lspady

Writing Contest: Robots

Other Events & Contests

What type of robot would you invent to help people (or your community) and why?

WHO: 4th – 12th graders

WHAT: Essay answering, “What type of robot would you invent to help people (or your community) and why?

WHEN: Submissions are due March 15, 2019

WHY: To practice your writing skills of course!  You might also win a chance to meet Grant Imahara who has worked on some of the most famous movie and TV robots of all time including R2-D2 and the Energizer Bunny.

Visit https://www.nescifest.com/participate/essay/ for more details.

#68:The Math Behind Pringles

Math Mini Sparks

This Math Minute was inspired by the Pringles commercial that played during Super Bowl LVII. I’ve always been intrigued by the shape of Pringles, but this commercial took it to the next level and had me pondering the mathematics behind this beloved chip!

Spark your math thinking!

1. Set up your math mini spark recording page: #68 The Math Behind Pringles

2. Watch the commercial.

 

3. Read this article at Bedtime math

Potato Chips That Rock ‘n Roll

4. Create a list of 5 things you learned from the article.

5. Choose 1 project to complete:

  • A Pringles can is a cylinder that is 30 cm tall.  The circles at each end of the can have a radius of 4 cm.  Find the surface area and volume of the can.  Click here for help with the formulas. Record all of your math on paper.
  • Watch this video on stacking Pringles in a complete circle.  Check out Cooper and Jack’s attempt!  Record some ideas about the strategy you would use to make the ring. What problems will you face?  If you want to try this project, talk to the EY coordinator at your school. The #spadyboys had a friendly Pringle Stacking Competition/Taste Test the other night.  Check out the video!
  • Create a package that will hold a single Pringle.  Send it to yourself (or a friend) in the mail and see if your package kept it protected during its journey (didn’t cause it to break).

 

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

#67: Rose Bowl Parade

Math Mini Sparks

parade | pəˈrād | noun

a public procession, especially one celebrating a special day or event and including marching bands and floats.

Who doesn’t love a good parade?  People throwing out candy from elaborately decorated floats, listening to marching bands while baton twirlers dance by, watching the line of fancy cars drive by with kings and queens waiving…the list goes on!

A favorite tradition is watching the Rose Bowl Parade on New Year’s Day.  There have been over 135 Rose Bowl parades in Pasadena, California.

Spark your math thinking!

  1. Set up your math mini spark recording page: #67: Rose Bowl Parade.
  2. Watch this video about the design and Manufacturing process for floats.

3. Record what you learned and an idea for a float.

4. Ask your EY teacher for the Rose Bowl Parade math page from the Mini Spark folder. You will calculate the number of flowers used to create the floats.

5. Work on this math activity at Bedtime Math.  The answers to the math problems are at the bottom of the page, so don’t scroll all of the way down until you are ready to check your work.

More Than One Rose for Your Nose

 

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

image credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/karmakazesal/4146346672

2019 Nebraska Robotics Expo

Other Events & Contests

The Nebraska Robotics Expo will be held at  Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum on Saturday, February 16, 2019.  Westside would like to take 3 TEAMS to this amazing event!

Mr. Harold Sanchez, a Loveland parent, will be holding workshops on Saturdays in January to prepare for the event.  All 4rd-6th grade students at Westside Elementary Schools are invited to attend. Even if a child decides he/she does not want to participate in the Expo, they are still welcome to attend the Saturday workshops.

Descriptions of the Robotics Expo events can be found by clicking the links below.

Please fill out the form to reserve your spot for the Saturday workshops.  They will be offered on January 5, 12, and 26 (all Saturdays) in the Swanson Public Library (9101 W Dodge Rd, Omaha, NE 68114) basement.

There is only space for 20 participants at each workshop. Students will be working on teams.  If a child wants to be part of the teams participating in the Robotics Expo, he/she should be prepare to attend all three workshops.

  • 3:00-3:30 pm: General information about the event, and set up.
  • 3:30-5:30 pm: Practice
  • 5:30-5:45 pm: Clean up and closing

During each workshop, we will be practicing the activities.  If possible please bring a roll (or 2) of painters tape to assist in setting up the games/activities.  If your child plans to participate in the autonomous course (programming), it would be ideal for you to have a laptop computer (PC or Mac) with a USB port and the CEENBoT Commander software downloaded.  The CEENBoT Commander software can be found here: https://www.ceenbotinc.com/updates

#66: Alpha Bravo Charlie

Math Mini Sparks

Say what?

A student recently asked me if I knew the NATO alphabet.  I hadn’t heard of it so I told him to send me an email about it and voila…We have our #66 math mini spark!

Spark your math thinking!

  1. Set up your math mini spark recording page: #66: Alpha Bravo Charlie
  2. Read about the NATO phonetic alphabet by visiting this site.  Record what you have learned.
  3. Learn about how the alphabet was chosen write about some new information that you learned.
  4. Visit the site to learn how the alphabet has changed over time. Record some details.
  5. Watch this video and then record the spelling of your first name using the correct NATO alphabet words.

6. Check out how the U.S. Navy uses alphabet flags, numeral pennants, numeral flags, and special flags and pennants for visual signaling.  Even though the flags are not used for spelling out words, draw the flags that would spell your first name.

7. What does the NATO alphabet have to do with math?

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

CM (Charlie Mike): Means continue mission.  Keep moving forward.  

#65: Smartphone Materials

Math Mini Sparks

How are smartphones built? What materials are used? Complete this math mini spark and learn more.

Spark your math thinking!

1. Set up your math mini spark recording page: #65: Smartphone Materials

2. Print a copy of this worksheet.

3. Fill in the worksheet as you watch the video. Add a picture of your worksheet to your recording sheet, or include it when you turn in your mini spark.

4. Read some of the statistics about smartphones on this site.  Record a question about a statistic that you found interesting.

5. Review this metals in a smartphone infographic. Write 3 compliments and one suggestion that you have that would make it better.

6. Read about the rare earth elements at this page.  Create  a visual to display 8+ pieces of information about rare earth elements. Add this visual to your recording page.

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

#64: Divide by Zero?

Math Mini Sparks

So for now is sounds like we can’t divide by zero, but maybe there might be a rule that mathematicians could be tweaked to make it possible?  Check out this math mini spark and see what you think about this idea.

Spark your math thinking!

  1. Set up your math mini spark recording page: #64: Why can’t you divide by zero
  2. Watch this video that explains why you can’t divide by zero. Write down 5 ideas from the video.

3. Record 5 vocabulary terms with definitions from the video.

4. Read this info page from Math is Fun. Record 5 details from this page.

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

#63: Can you KenKen®?

Learning Opportunities, Math Mini Sparks

The goal of KenKen® is to fill the whole grid with numbers, making sure no number is repeated in any row or column. If it’s a 3×3 puzzle, you only use the numbers 1-3.  If it’s a 4×4 puzzle, you only use the numbers 1-4. The “cages” are outlined in dark black.  The top left corner of each cage has a “target number” and a math operation (+ – x /).  The numbers you put in the cage have to make the target number. Sometimes a cage is one square in which case, it’s a freebie.

Spark your math thinking!

  1. Set up your math mini spark recording page: #63: Can you KenKen®?
  2.  Watch this tutorial to get started.

3. Record important reminders from this tutorial on your recording sheet.

4. Print out the puzzles and try to KenKen®!

Click here for a 4×4 Puzzle

Click here for a 6×6 Puzzle

5. This website has many more puzzles to try. Find 2 more to do.

6. Share your math mini spark recording page and ken kens with your teacher/EY coordinator.

Check out the KenKen® badge at the EY badge page.

Early Enrichment #37: Shark Teeth and Shark Rules

Early Enrichment
There are so many cool facts about sharks to learn.  There are a also so many rules for sharks to follow at school.
                        What!? Sharks at school?
Get out your notebook and dive into this mini shark lesson.
1. Please read this Wonderopolis article about sharks and take notes.
https://wonderopolis.org/wonder/how-many-teeth-do-sharks-have
Please record at least 4 ideas and/or drawings from the article in your notebook.
2. Listen to the book Clark the Shark

Write down all of the rhymes that Clark creates in your notebook.
You should have at least 4 of Clark’s rhymes written in your notebook when you are done.
Your assignment
Create 3, 4 or 5 of your OWN rhymes that would teach Clark how to behave at school and follow school rules. Write or type your rhymes and share them with your teacher.