All posts by lspady

Move over Screen Time…Makerspaces are Moving In!

Spady Blog, Uncategorized
Please say I’m not the only one that comes up with crazy ways to deal with managing screen time!
  • If you read for 30 minutes and exercise for 30 minutes, you can earn 15 minutes of screen time.
  • No screen time during the week and two hours on the weekend.
  • You can “purchase” screen time with the buttons in your jar.  You can earn buttons by doing your chores, going to bed without arguing, and leaving your brothers alone.
  • NO SCREEN TIME…EVER!  I’m going to hide all the devices including the Wii remotes.  You will read and do homework from the minute you get home to the minute you go to bed!  (BTW…I’m not proud of that one, but yes, I have said it.)

This summer, I decided to approach screen time from a different angle.  Instead of coming up with more rules and regulations, I decided to create some spaces in my basement that might seem more appealing than screens.  Check out the the Spady boys’ Makerspaces.

My friend Karin recently gave her daughter Ava’s room a makeover.  What do you get when you combine a sewing machine, art wall, marble run, outdoor bird feeder, indoor garden, and a doorbell?  A makerspace fit for a queen!  What kid wouldn’t love a room like this?!  I’m thinking about asking Ava if I can rent the space for myself! 🙂

Makerspaces are popping up in schools too!  The library seems to be a good fit for these exploratoriums since students come in and out throughout the day.  Librarian and EY Coordinator Miss Heflin (@missheflin) is starting a Tinker Lab in Paddock Road’s library (@PaddockRoad66).  How exciting!

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So what are your thoughts?  Do you have any suggestions for managing screen time?  What kinds of materials would be in your ideal makerspace?  Do makerspaces belong in schools?  Leave a comment and share any resources!

#5: Paper Airplanes

Full STEAM Ahead, , ,

Here are some resources to get you thinking about Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math as they relate to Paper Airplanes!

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your STEAM mini spark recording page: #5: Paper Airplanes

2.  Watch this video. On your recording page, write a 1-2 sentence summary.

3.  Open this file that explains how to make 6 paper airplanes. Look over the choices. On your recording page, choose 3 that look interesting to you.  More advanced planes can be found at this site.

4. Check out TED-Ed video about flight.  This video examines the principles of flight physics and reveals how aerodynamic lift creates the necessary force for airplanes to soar. Record 8 details from the video on your recording page.

5. Watch this video on Lift, Weight, Thrust, Drag & Design by Wesley Fryer.  Build one of the paper airplanes demonstrated in the video and try it out!  Have a friend help you record a video of your plane flying.

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

Check out the Plane Builder Badge at the EY Website.

Optional:

Organize a class Paper Airplane Flying Competition.  After researching and designing the perfect paper airplane, you can judge the competition in a variety of categories like longest flight time, most artistic design, farthest flight, etc.  Create a table to organize the data and summarize the results.  Take pictures/video of the top airplanes in each category. Talk to your teacher/EY coordinator about this option.

 

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#4: Papel Picado

Full STEAM Ahead, Uncategorized
Papel Picado means “pierced paper” in Spanish.  In Mexico, artists use special tools to pierce through many layers of paper at once. In Mexico, people create Papel Picado banners to celebrate holidays and different occasions.
Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your STEAM mini spark recording page: #4: Papel Picado

2. Set up your recording page with these sections

WHAT IS PAPEL PICADO?

PRE-COLOMBIAN PAPER

CULTURAL INFLUENCES CHINA

CULTURAL INFLUENCES SPAIN

GENERATIONAL FOLK ART

2. Read the lesson pages.  On your recording sheet write a few sentences for each section.

3.  Watch this instruction video. On your recording page write the supplies you will need.

4. Ask your EY teacher to help you find paper and string for your project.

5. Ask your teacher to use this template and print it on the colorful paper for you.

6. If you want to use the template to get started, and then create your own design that is great.

7. Create a simple Papel Picado following the steps from the video. If you want to print out this instruction page you can

8. Take a picture of your project and add it to your recording page.

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

#4: Weird But True! Size

Math Mini Sparks

This math mini spark explores Weird But True! Size Edition.

Spark your math thinking!

  1. Set up your math mini spark recording page:#4: Weird But True! Size
  2. Explore math facts at National Geographic Kids Weird but True! Size Edition.
  3. To move from fact to fact click the arrows.
  4. There are 8 facts in total. Record your favorite four facts on your recording sheet.
  5. Do research about each of the four topics so that you can add 3-5 more details for each one.
  6. Share your math mini spark recording page with your teacher/EY coordinator.

Coder Dojo

Uncategorized

Screen Shot 2015-09-01 at 10.13.08 PM

According to coderdojo.com, CoderDojo is a global movement of free, volunteer-led, community based programming clubs for young people.  While Westside Community Schools hasn’t officially started a Dojo, the EY Team is excited to try it out to see if there is any interest.

The first CoderDojo will be held on Saturday, September 19 for students in grades K-6.  There will be a second Dojo on Saturday, November 21.  Both Dojos will run from 9:30 am – 12:00 pm at Westgate Elementary on 7802 Hascall St.  A parent or guardian must be present for the duration of the Dojo.

Based on interest and feedback, further Dojos will be scheduled throughout the year.

Click here to sign up!

#3: Eiffel Tower Math

Math Mini Sparks

The Eiffel Tower is named after a man named Gustave Eiffel, but he didn’t actually create it. Instead, two of his top engineers, Maurice Koechlin and Emile Nouguier, designed the tower. The names of 72 different artists, engineers, and mathematicians who helped with the design are carved into the tower so that everyone can remember them!

Spark your math thinking!

1. Set up your math mini spark recording page: #3: Eiffel Tower Math

2. Read this article about the Eiffel Tower. Record 3 math details about this structure on your recording page.

3. Watch the Geometry of the Eiffel Tower.  Record 3 details from the video on your recording sheet.

4. Answer one of these these questions on your recording page.  Reminder for your teacher that answer key can be found in the math mini spark folder.

  • Describe the significance of the Eiffel Tower’s height and how it compares to football fields.
  •  Who was Gustave Eiffel, and what was his profession before designing the Eiffel Tower?
  • Explain what a truss is and how it functions in supporting structures like bridges.
  •  What are the two types of forces mentioned that act on the truss, and how do they differ?
  • What is meant by “static equilibrium,” and why is it important for the stability of a well-designed bridge?

5. Global Math Stories combine math, history, and cultural stories. Check out the information about the Eiffel Tower. Answer 2 of these questions on your math recording page.  Reminder for your teacher that answer key can be found in the math mini spark folder.

  1. The tower has 1,665 steps in total. If you were allowed to climb all the way from the bottom to the top, how long do you think it would take you? Explain your reasoning.
  2. Every repainting of the tower requires 50-60 tons of paint. Find the mean and median of the amount of paint that has been used during these applications: 52, 60, 58, 54, 59, 52, 60, 51, and 55 tons.
  3. Imagine the Statue of Liberty and the Eiffel Tower are standing side by side with the sun shining on them. The Statue of Liberty is 93 meters tall, and its shadow is 10.7 meters long. If the Eiffel Tower is 330 meters tall, how long will its shadow be?

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

You can use step 5 as the first story for the Global Math Stories Badge that can be found on the EY badge page.