Category Archives: Uncategorized

Animal Robots

Full STEAM Ahead, Uncategorized,

While the word “robot” can conjure up an image of a cyborg human with lights for eyes and super powers, animal-inspired robots are accomplishing tasks in all kinds of medical, military and rescue work. These anibots perform tasks that would be difficult and often dangerous for mere mortals, or even human droids, to accomplish

Learn about these 3 types of animal robots 

Pneupard is a robot that is designed to be agile and fast like cheetahs and other cats. Pneupard has artificial muscles made from rubber tubing that are covered in nylon and filled with air. The pneumatic muscles have lifelike abilities that allow the bot to replicate the range of motion and strength of a real cat!

Watch this video about Pneupard and create a visual answering the questions below.

  • How are these engineers using robots to learn about nature?
  • Why are cheetah’s ultra complex to recreate?
  • What did the engineers learn when the were in the park
  • What animal would you choose to recreate as a robot? What part or parts of this animal would be ultra complex to recreate?

 

One modern robot flier is called ornithopter. Ornithopter looks and flies much like a real bird. One sweet little ornithopter is used as a nano-spybot, equipped with a tiny camera.

Watch this video about Ornithopter and answer the questions create a visual answering the questions below.

  • What materials are used to make this robot?
  • What other material come to mind that might work?
  • Have you ever seen a servo motor? If not where else might it be used? If you have seen one, what was its purpose?
  • What is visually interesting to you about this robot? What woud you change?

 

L. Arts Mini-Spark #46: Like to Read? Check out Tween Tribune!

Reading Enrichment, Uncategorized

Screen Shot 2015-04-16 at 9.33.44 PM

Are you an enthusiastic reader who likes to read current event articles from a variety of sources? Check out…………Tween Tribune!

Tween Tribune consists of daily news sites and includes text, photos, graphics, and audio and/or video materials prepared by the Smithsonian and others about current events, history, art, culture and science.

It’s easy find articles:

Go to newsela via clever.

Select a Grade Level at the top (K-4, 5-8, or 9-12)

Scan the articles and select one to read.

Create a reading log in docs or pages to keep track of the articles you will read to earn this mini spark

  1. Add your name, grade and school (Trevor, 3, Sunset)

2. Put the name of the article at the top of the page

3. Summarize the article and type a question you have after reading the article

4. Answer the Critical Thinking Challenge and add your score.

Repeat this process for 3 4 5 6 articles depending on your grade level.

Gr 3 reads 3, Gr 4 read 4 and so on.

Submit all work to your teacher or EY coordinator.

 

 

Imagineering In A Box!

Uncategorized

Source: https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/

Walt Disney Imagineering Partners With Khan Academy To Bring You ‘Imagineering in a Box’

Imagineering fans, get ready! If you’ve ever been one of many guests who’s visited a Disney theme park and found yourself inspired to dream, build and create, there’s a new online program you just can’t miss!

‘Imagineering in a Box’ is a free online program that brings together the diverse talents of Disney Imagineers around the world for a one-of-a-kind learning experience and is part of Disney’s commitment to helping today’s youth create the future they imagine.

The series offers 32 videos in which Imagineers share how they use a wide range of skills – from story development and conceptual design, to math, physics and engineering – to create immersive experiences. The online curriculum aims to ignite curiosity, inspire creativity, and encourage innovation in the minds of students and teachers alike, while creating fun and engaging opportunities to explore new concepts.

Modules range from a tutorial on engineering software, to an interactive exercise where learners are encouraged to gather items around them and create something new. The program’s hands-on components will allow students to relate new concepts to real-world examples to bring treasured Disney stories to life. Each activity is designed to be scalable, allowing individuals to learn on their own or in a classroom setting.

Click here to get started!

Virginia Frank Memorial Writing Contest

Uncategorized

The Friends of Omaha Public Library are currently accepting submissions for the Virginia Frank Memorial Writing Contest.  The contest is for students in 5-8th grade.  First prize in each grade is $100.
Here is a link to the contest   https://omahalibrary.org/virginia-frank-memorial-writing-contest/

The Virginia Frank Memorial Writing contest is held each year in the spring to recognize the creative writing talent of area students. This contest, sponsored by the Friends of Omaha Public Library, recognizes the top three winners from each grade. Each winner receives a cash prize and certificate, is recognized in a ceremony at the library, and has their story published on the library website. The school libraries of each winning student are also recognized with a matching cash prize.

Eligibility Requirements

Stories must be submitted with an entry form to be considered. Complete all fields either online or on a printed entry form and submit with your story.
Students must be in 5th to 8th grade and live in Douglas or Sarpy counties.
Students may be enrolled in public, private, parochial or home school.
Stories must be typed and no longer than 750 words.
Entries must be original fiction featuring a character from a book you have enjoyed and read on your own. Identify the book and author from which your character originated in the title or subtitle of your story.
Only one entry per contestant will be accepted.
The decision of the judges is final.
All entries become the property of Friends of Omaha Public Library (FOPL) and may be featured by Omaha Public Library on its website or social media.
Deadline for entries is February 28, 2020.
Prizes

First ($100), second ($75) and third place ($50)
Prizes will be awarded to the top three winners from each grade.
The school library of the winning students will be recognized with matching cash prizes.
Read the winning stories from the 2019 Virginia Frank Memorial Writing Contest

About Virginia Frank

The Virginia Frank Memorial Writing Contest began in 2003 and is named in honor of a longtime Friends of Omaha Public Library volunteer. Virginia Frank was a Central High and UNO graduate. She acquired a master’s degree from Brown University and taught English literature and creative writing at UNO for many years. Her passion for students and young people inspired everyone around her, and her enthusiasm encouraged many students to explore their creative writing talents. Frank volunteered thousands of hours with the Friends of OPL to help ensuring a bright future for our public libraries.

#71: 2020 Olympic Medals

Learning Opportunities, Math Minute, Mini Challenges, Uncategorized

80,000 tons of mobile phones and small electronic devices around Japan were used in the crafting of every gold, silver and bronze Olympic and Paralympic medal awarded to athletes at the 2020 Olympic Games.
How can you spend your Math Minutes?

Image Source: https://www.pdclipart.org/

Early Enrichment #38 Create your own National Day

Early Enrichment, Uncategorized

Did you know that November 3rd

is national sandwich day?

December 7th is national letter writing day,  and January  7th is national bobblehead day.

Click on the red link for each these days and write a few sentence telling us about each

one.

What day do feel deserves to add to the list of national celebrations?

Pickle day? It’s observed on November 15.

How about National fuzzy sock day? It’s a day people celebrate it on December 21st!

What would be a day that you would LOVE to celebrate? Start brainstorming. Create a list of 10 days that you would enjoy having as special days on the calendar.

After you create your list, choose your very favorite day. Create your own informational apple clip project about your day.

Include this information:

The name of your day

3-5 facts about your topic

How we can celebrate this day?

Why it is important enough to be a national day?

Add color and illustrations to your clips.

EXTRA: Do research to find out if your day is already celebrated. If so, add that date to your clip project.

Share your project with your teacher or the EY coordinator in your building.

 

 

 

 

 

#61: Math Contests

Math Minute, Uncategorized

Who’s up for a contest?

Each week during the 2018-19 school year, a math contest will be posted on the EY Blog.  There are several ways to access the contests.  1. Your teacher should have a poster in his/her room with a QR code you can scan.  2. You can go to the EY Blog main page and select Math -> 2018-19 Math Contests.  3. Click here!

  • Each contest will be a Google Form that you can take on your school iPad.  Although we have no way of checking, we would like for you to take no more than 20 minutes on each contest.
  • Theses contests were designed for students in grades 5-6, but any student is welcome to participate.
  • If there is more than one submission for any particular student, the score for that contest will not be counted.
  • You MAY use a calculator, but please work by yourself!
  • We will keep a running total of your contest points and award prizes periodically.

Good luck and have fun!

 

L. Arts Mini-Spark #34: Are Dragons Real?

Reading Enrichment, Uncategorized

 

Dragons have been an important character in fairy tales and fantasy stories for ages.  Fire breathing dragons may not exist, but if you consider a dragon to be a supersize reptile with a wicked bite…then have I got a challenge for you!  The Komodo dragon is the real deal!  How can a Komodo dragon, that weighs about 300 pounds, kill a water buffalo that is over twice its size?  Read this article to find out:

https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/animals/komodo-dragon/#komodo-dragon-head-on.jpg

The San Diego zoo has a Komodo dragon named Ken.  Watch this video to meet him:

http://kids.sandiegozoo.org/videos/komodo-dragons

Take it a step further: Komodo dragons only live in one country in the world, Indonesia.  Indonesia is made up of several islands.  Komodo dragons reside on some of the islands, but not all of them.  This website will show you some other interesting facts about Indonesia—home of the Komodo dragon:

http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/sciencefacts/countries/indonesia.html

What are three facts you learned about Indonesia?  What else would you like to know about Indonesia or Komodo dragons?

 

A site to use for further research

https://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/komodo-dragon