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!

Paper Box Kendamas!

Today students engineered their very own Kendama using a paper box, string, sticks, straws, and paper clips. Their challenge was to design an original Paper Box Kendama with given materials, then create and name a trick to teach to someone else.

Fist, we did a VTS activity looking at various Kendama models.

Next we read an article from the Sacramento Bee about the "Kendama Kraze" using AVID critical reading skills.
http://www.sacbee.com/entertainment/living/family/article2576921.html

Then students were given a set of materials and began building. Once their Paper Box Kendama were created, students made up original tricks to perform to others in the class.

putting it together...

 practicing...

Our last step was reflecting on what we learned today. Students were encouraged to take their Kendama home and share it with a family member and/ or friend.

This was a fun and creative way for students to engineer their own fun!
As one student wrote so well, Nice Job!

How High Can You Spring A Box Troll?

Today is October 31st, so we made Box Trolls on springs and measured how high we could get our Box Trolls to "spring up".

First we did a VTS activity looking at various box trolls.

Then we had a mini lesson on springs and accordion style paper springs.
Next students created their own box troll using a box outline, tape, scissors, and a ruler.
After the students made their box troll, they decorated them and measured how high they could "spring up".
Measurements were made by:
1. pushing the box troll down and taking a centimeter measurement.
2. Springing up the box troll and measuring the highest point.
3. subtracting the first spring to the second spring.

This was a fun and creative project that also required measurements.

Lego Person Parachutes!

Today students built a miniature parachute for a Lego person in the hopes of landing on a target from ten feet away.

First, students did a VTS activity while looking at various pictures of parachutes. Next students had a mini-lesson on capturing wind design. Students then began building their own parachute using a plastic bag, scissors, a meter of string, and a Lego person.

After students parachutes were designed and modified, the challenge began! Given a meter stick, students dropped their Lego Person Parachute from ten feet up trying to land on a "mountain".

Our final step was writing a reflection of what was learned about parachute design.
Great job students!

building

testing

Landing....

Success!

Sail Cars!

What do you think would push a sail car further; a blown up balloon or wind from a straw?

Today students created a sail design that provided the optimal way of capturing two wind variables. Working with four Lego wheels, two note cards, a meter of tape, a paper clip, a balloon and a straw, students made their own Sail Car.

First students studied sail design using a V.T.S. strategy and reading an article using AVID Critical Reading Skills. Next, students created their Sail Car and modified the sail design to capture the most wind. We used two wind instruments to test our design: a blown up balloon and a straw. Students collected data, modified, and reflected on what they learned today.

the races...

 A Great Sail Wind design after modifications....

Well done Champion Students!