Champions Build Pencil Towers!

Students were given the challenge of seeing how high they could build a pencil tower using twelve pencils, one foot of tape, one piece of construction paper and a pair of scissors. First, we read about basic building structures and studied an image of the worlds tallest building.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tallest_buildings_in_the_world

Next, students were given their materials and 20 minutes to build and modify.

After the 20 minutes was up, we measured each teams structure.
Our last step was writing a reflection summary of what we built and learned today.
Well done Champions!

Champions Build Contraptions!

Today students were given the challenge to engineer a contraption that could guide a marble three feet and land in a small cup with a given set of materials. Students were given three large sheets of construction paper, a small cup, a meter of tape, scissors, a marble and a ruler. After looking at various images of contraptions, students began building theirs with a partner. In twenty minutes students were able to build, test, modify and test again.

After building, students reflected on what they constructed and what they learned from this activity. Students were encouraged to take their contraptions home and share them with their families.
Well done Champions!
(pictures and video will be posted in 24 hours)

Champions Engineer Lego Figure Water Walking Shoes!

Today students engineered "water walking shoes" for a Lego figure. First students read about college students who had a challenge to "walk on water" found at:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/08/fiu-students-walk-on-water-florida_n_2097042.html

Next, students were given a Lego figure, a straw, one coffee stirring stick, small piece of tape, 3 inches of string and a pair of scissors. They were then given 15 minutes to construct the water shoes.

Students who were able to have their Lego figure stand (on water without tipping over) for more than 30 seconds reached SUCCESS!

Our final step was writing a reflective summary of what we learned in their Unit PowerPoint about engineering from today's activity. Students also took a picture of their creation and screen clipped it into their summary essay using their netbook to show their parents. Champion students did a wonderful job today!

Champions Build Lego Airplanes!

Today students were given the challenge of constructing a Lego Airplane that could zoom down a zip-line as fast as possible.

First, students went over some key vocabulary such as "incline", "performance", and "accelerate". Then we did a Visual Thinking Strategy looking and various types of zip lines.

Next, students were given a bag of Legos and a paper clip to engineer a "airplane". Students then tested and modified their creation after trying it on the zip line. Most students were able to construct their Lego airplane plane to make it all away across the zip line (about 11 feet).

 Our final steps in this activity was for students to type a reflection summary using their net-book and taking a picture of their airplane to add to the summary reflection.

Well done Champions!

Champs Build Paper Planes!

Did you Know?

•The all-time distance record for paper airplane flight* was set in February, 2012. The paper craft was designed by John Collins (a.k.a. "The Paper Airplane Guy"), and soared a whopping 226 feet, 10 inches. 

•Paper airplanes embody the scientific method. Every throw is an experiment. It's a hobby that begs the paper pilot to understand ever more in order to excel. Hypothesis, experiment design, trial, and results—it's all built into every plane and every throw. To play with a paper airplane is to dabble in science, whether you know it or not.

With that in mind, the challenge for A8 Champs was to:

        Find a fold design using a web-search, follow the instructions from the website, test flight/ make modifications, and then reflect on what was learned.

                                      Helpful resources for this lesson:

(to get the students "pumped up")

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SeJtOzciNA4

(world record design and insight)

http://io9.com/how-to-fold-the-worlds-farthest-flying-paper-airplane-1660676516
(Great website for design and How-To)

http://www.funpaperairplanes.com/

Researching best designs...

following directions and creating...

field of dreams...

final touches and modifications...

35 feet record!

most creative design...

controlled chaos..

Champions Create Gliders

Today students made and modified gliders while trying to hit a target!
We used the following site for our functional reading of directions:
http://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Simple-Glider

First we had a VTS discussion on the following image:

Next we read the following article using our AVID critical reading skills:
http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/blearlyflight2.htm

After reading the article, each student was given the following set of materials:
paper, tape, a ruler, two straws, and 4 small paper clips. Following the wikihow directions above using their netbook, they engineered their glider. After several modifications, they were able to hit a target.

Our last step was writing a summary of what we learned and taking a picture of the glider using pixect.com. The summary and picture was uploaded in their Quater 2 Powerpoint.
Well Done Champions!

                                

Pinwheel Windmills!

This month the 6th grade DATA students are participating in a Renewable EnergyPBL in all their classes.
We read this article as a class and then we decided to try some hands on wind projects for the next few weeks.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/11/science/earth/denmark-aims-for-100-percent-renewable-energy.html?_r=0

Today students made their own pinwheel and then tested it against different wind factors to see how fast they could make it spin. First we had a VTS discussion based on the following image:

Next, students made their own "high grade" pinwheel following on-line directions from:
http://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Pinwheel

After the class created their pinwheels, we walked around campus in different directions trying to find the spot that created the most wind speed for their pinwheel. Once back in class students reflected on what they learned. Well done Champions! One student noted that the pinwheel was really a "wind detector"!

Well done Champions!