All posts by lspady

Math Curse

Spady Blog

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I’ve been reading The Math Curse by John Scieska + Lane Smith to my first grade group and I continue to be amazed at what their young minds can absorb!  If you’re not familiar with the book, here is a link to a video of the book being read.  Here is another link to a condensed version of the book (more in movie form).  I have read this book to all ages and there’s really something for everyone in here…no matter what your math background.  Here are the things I worked on with the 1st graders:

Fibonacci’s Sequence:  1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21…

  • I put the sequence on the board and within a minute, the first graders were able to figure out the pattern.  What are the next 3 numbers in this sequence?  What would the first 10 terms in the sequence be if Fibonacci’s sequence started with 2 fours?

Gallons-Quarts-Pints-Cups

  • The graphic below is often used to teach volume conversions.  There are 4 quarts in a gallon, 2 pints in a quart, and 2 cups in a pint.  Having this visual makes it easy to answer other conversion questions.  How many pints are in a gallon?  How many cups in a gallon?  How many quarts are in a half gallon?

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Arrays

  • Instead of 24 kids in the class, the first graders helped figure out seating arrangements for 12 kids.  They easily came up with 1 row of 12, 2 rows of 6, and so on.  That made it really easy to introduce multiplication.  We also had fun counting how many ears, fingers, eyes, etc. in the classroom.  As an extension, I asked questions like: What is the number eyes in the classroom take away the number of noses?  What is the number of fingers in the classroom plus the number of arms?

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The students’ homework is to make up an everyday math problem so we can create a book similar to The Math Curse.  Leave a comment with a math problem that you made up and it just might make it into our book!

Science Olympiad – March 25, 2014

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What an amazing day!  Ninety-eight 4th-6th grade students from all ten elementary schools participated in the 1st Annual Westside Community Schools Science Olympiad.  Students had a fun-filled day exploring science concepts like density, simple machines, and measurement.  In teams of two, students used their observation and estimating skills to complete four activities.  Here are a few picture and video highlights from the day.

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Sink Or Float

Catapults

Write-It Do-It

Pasta Bridge

Mystery Boxes

March Madness! Parent/Teacher Conferences and More!

Lusero Blog

Hello to all!  I think we are seeing the light at the end of this long winter tunnel.  At least, that is what I am thinking to get me through this really cold Monday.  The weatherman had best be telling the truth!

I wanted to touch base and let you know what my schedule looks like for conferences this time.  My plan is to be in each school on the opposite day from the first conferences.  This means I will be at Loveland on Tuesday, March 11th and then Sunset on Wednesday, March 12th.  I will attempt to make it to each scheduled conference in that building but I can’t promise that it will happen.  If our paths do not cross, and you would like to discuss your child’s progress, please call or send me an e-mail and we will set something up.  I wish there was an easier solution and I could meet with you all, but there doesn’t seem to be one.

The students in grades 4-5 are all busy working on their inventions or innovations.  They each will get a presentation board this week to use with their exhibit.  They are expected to have a prototype of their invention or a detailed diagram.  It is fun to watch them create.  Some struggle with the idea but are eager to create the advertisement and explanation.  Some are the opposite, the idea part was easy, but now they have to work at the writing piece.  And some are strong in both areas– we may have some inventors in our midst!

The sixth grade students are working in collaborative teams to create a Rube Goldberg Machine that will complete a simple task.  There are guidelines and a rubric to keep them on track.  This takes patience and perseverance.  Their creativity and problem solving skills will be tested as they attempt to make them work.  What looks great on paper, does not always work in reality.

Grades 4-6 will share their inventions, innovations and chain reaction contraptions with each other later this month as a culmination of our Innovation Concept.  Our next quarter will focus on Connections –  from the past to the present and the future.

I hope to see all of you next week, but please feel free to e-mail or call with questions or concerns.  Hard to believe we are in the fourth quarter!  Wow!  As always, thanks for sharing your children with me!

 

 

Young Scientist Challenge

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Life is full of opportunities to seek out innovative solutions to everyday issues.  The Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge celebrates students in grades 5-8 who find innovative solutions for these issues.

For this week’s learning opportunity, check out the Contest Archives and see what students have done in the past.  When you click on the link, the Contest Archives are on the right (from 2013 to 2008).  Click on a year and then scroll down on the page to find links to 10 finalists.  When you’re finished, go to the form and fill out the required information.

One last thing…the 2014 Challenge is open until April 22.  You still have time to create a 1-2 minute video and  submit it!  There are some amazing prizes and opportunities so check it out!

Contest Archives Link:  http://www.youngscientistchallenge.com/contest-archives

Link to Form:  https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1uUeC4dIN_JraT3Gu5Uk3qlwWFE-4wpR1W2jFiZ5JH94/viewform

PhET

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PhET is a site filled with free online physics, chemistry, biology, earth science, and math simulations.  Find a simulation or two or three or four by clicking on the link below.  When you leave a comment, list the name of the simulation(s) you explored and then share something new you learned.  Playing the simulation might also prompt you to do a little more research on the topic.  List that information as well!

NOTE:  When leaving comments, only put your first name and do not leave your email. 

http://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulations/category/new

Click on a simulation and then click Run Now!  Have fun exploring!

Cool New Beef

Spady Blog

Guest blog post by Alex

Click Here for the Talking Cow

What if you could get a hamburger without any cows being harmed in the process?
Scientists at Maastricht University in the Netherlands did just that.  How you ask?  They took some cow muscle stem cells and fed them until they multiplied.  Eventually there was enough to make hamburger patty.  They added some beet juice to give it color and some bread crumbs to give it texture.  Want to know how it tasted?  You’ll have to find out by reading “Meet the New Meet” by Stephen Ornes.

https://student.societyforscience.org/article/meet-new-meat?mode=topic&context=39

SNOW DAY Bonus Learning Opportunity

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Rube Goldberg adjective: doing something simple in a very complicated way that is not necessary

Have you ever heard of Rube Goldberg?  This video will give you some basics and will also provide you with some examples.  http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/rube-goldberg-the-father-of-inventions/

This Sesame Street video shows a Rube Goldberg machine shooting a basketball.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1mTjSYzK01c

Here’s a very elaborate Rube Goldberg machine: http://www.wimp.com/gomachine/

What information can you find out about Rube Goldberg?  Learn something new, share your ideas, and don’t forget to cite your sources!

Innovative Thinking and Inventions

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How old do you think you need to be in order to become a CEO?  What about a writer or illustrator?  How much schooling do you need to be a fashion designer?  What about an entrepreneur?  One might think it would take 2-4 years of college and several years of experience, but at the ripe old age of 8, Maya Penn started doing all of these things!

In her TED Talk, Maya talks about her passions and interests and why she does what she does.  Check out her website (which she coded herself in html) Maya’s Ideas  and watch her TED Talk here:  http://www.ted.com/talks/maya_penn_meet_a_young_entrepreneur_cartoonist_designer_activist.html

I watched a webinar today and learned the meaning of “flow”.  Psychology professor Mihály Csíkszentmihályi coined the term and simply put, flow is a feeling of complete engagement in a creative or playful activity.  You could say Maya Penn experiences ‘flow’ as she designs clothes and creates animations.

What about you?  What do you like to do that creates ‘flow’ in your life? What are your passions and interests?  Are you working on an invention or new idea?  Do you like to write?  Are you composing your own music?

Young people are capable of doing amazing things!  Leave a comment and answer one or more of the above bolded questions.  You can also research a young inventor by using one of the links below.  Feel free to research other inventors and use other sources-just make sure to cite your source!  As an added bonus, I stumbled upon a rubber band contest.  Check it out and start inventing!

iKids: http://www.inventivekids.com/category/young-inventors-2/

Children of Invention: http://www.factmonster.com/ipka/A0768091.html

Rubber Band Contest: http://rubberbandcontest.org/