Build a Beanstalk/Paintbrush Design

Mrs. Tatham's Class

Structure and Function: Exploring Design

Kindergarten students in Mrs. Tatham's class have been exploring structure and function in everyday life. The students are learning that everything is made with a purpose for a purpose. After reading Jack and the Beanstalk, the students brainstormed with peers how to make a beanstalk out of pipe cleaners. The results were AMAZING and the students were so engaged in the process and really tapped into their engineering skills and critical thinking. The students also made a paintbrush out of random materials and then tested their paintbrushes to see if what they made could perform its function. Every group was successful using the design process: Ask, Explore, Model, Evaluate, and Explain. Oh what fun we had engaging in PLTW! 

Jack's Beanstalk

Who: Mrs. Dudte’s Kindergarten Class

Standard: Structure and Function: Exploring Design

In our class, we have been discovering the importance of structure and function of objects in our everyday lives. The students have been learning how to explore, plan, design and create. We are working to foster a love of engineering and design. 

The students have been discovering that everything created by humans was created to serve a specific purpose. For this project, we read the story Jack and The Beanstalk. They designed and worked collaboratively to create a model of Jack’s beanstalk. The students used pipe cleaners to help create a model with the goal in mind to create the tallest and strongest beanstalk possible. We then compared the height and strength of the beanstalk models.

The students thoroughly enjoyed the Structure and Function: Exploring Design standard. They are becoming increasingly interested in these fields.  We look forward to continuing to see the students develop a love of design and engineering.

Complex Machines- Day 2

Who- Mrs. Nichols' and Mrs. Oliphant's Class
Grade- 3rd
What- Stability and Motion: Forces and Interactions

We continued our study of machines today with complex machines. A complex machine combines at least 2 simple machines. After reading "Bill and Pete Go Down the Nile" by Tomie dePaola, the students had to create a complex machine independently by combining two simple machines. The machine had to successfully rescue "Bill", the alligator, and move him to land. The students could only control one part of the machine and it had to be free standing. Here are a few pictures and success stories!

Simple Machines- Day 1

Who- Mrs. Nichols' and Mrs. Oliphant's Class
Grade- 3rd
Standard- Stability and Motion: Forces and Interactions

Today we explored simple machines. The students tied the standard into our current unit (Tomie dePaola Author Study) though the Bill and Pete books. We identified an inclined plane, lever, and pulley. They used the iPad Nearpod app to study and collaborate on the three different machine types first then they went to the STEM lab to build these three machines. The students were guided through the "Inventor Publisher" app and successfully completed the inclined plane, lever, and pulley. You can check out the pictures below. It was an awesome experience to see the students working together towards one goal.

How long will the ice stay cold?

What is cool about matter

Animal Adaptations and Habitats  

      

Come take a look and discover how Mrs. Delancey's First Grade Class took a journey into the habitats of the world and discovered the amazing world of animal adaptations. The students worked together using literature to research and discover how each animal has specific adaptations designed to their special habitat. They then packed their bags (by designing a suitcase) to incorporate the items and materials they would need to survive and adapt in a specific habitat. What a trip they had!

All About Animal Adaptations and Habitats

Mrs. Sumrall's first grade class has been investigating animal adaptations and different habitats from around the world.  Students discovered that animals have to adapt to their environment in order to survive.  For this project students chose a habitat to visit.  The students created a suitcase which included appropriate clothing and other items needed to survive in their habitat.  

These students were visiting the Rain Forest.  They chose to make rain jackets and rain boots out of spare rubber.

This student was creating a warm jacket to wear in the Arctic.

As you can see, the students absolutely loved creating their suitcases and packing them with all of the necessary supplies.  

Matter

Is Oobleck Solid or Liquid?

For this experiment Mrs. Vick’s class used the text, Bartholomew and the Oobleck” to discover the characteristics of solids and liquids.

A King’s Mishap

Mrs. Vick had begun the activity by reading Dr. Suess’s book, “Bartholomew and the Oobleck.”  Students listened to a story involving a king’s mishap.  The mishap occurs when his magicians make a new creation called Oobleck.  Oobleck becomes a royal mess!

Make a Prediction

Once Mrs. Vick had finished reading, the students had made predictions as to what they think will happen when they mix the ingredients to form Oobleck.

Let the Fun Begin

Students mixed all the ingredients: water, cornstarch, and food coloring.  They then as a group described their Oobleck concoction with their senses. 

What a Fun Mess

Students quickly realized the characteristics of Oobleck.  If the students had held it still, it behaved like a liquid.  However, if students attempted to roll it up, it had behaved like a solid.

Students had discovered the ingredient cornstarch is made up of long chains of atoms.  When the students had moved it slowly past one another, it had flowed like a liquid because it was able to easily slide past each other.  However, when they had squeezed, rolled, or stressed it, the “atom chains” had intertwined and formed a solid. 

This is known as, “Non-Newtonian Fluids,” it does not have the typical properties of either solids or liquids.

Once the students were finished playing with their Oobleck creation they were able to discuss their findings with their group.  The students then filled out their recording sheet to show what their creation had looked like as a solid form and a liquid form.

As you can see they had quite a bit of fun playing with this gooey Oobleck mess.

It's a Matter of Matter!!!

Ms. Rutherford's Second Grade class joins in on the exciting exploration of texture, color and feel, using pumpkins!  What a great way to investigate the standard of matter!

Learning about Matter with Pumpkins

Who: Mrs. Morris's 2nd Grade Class

What Standard: Materials Science: Properties of Matter: In this exploration of materials science, students investigate and classify different kinds of materials by their observable properties, including color, texture, and heat conduction. After analyzing data from materials testing, students apply their knowledge and skills to determine the best material to solve a design problem. Students analyze how well the model solved the problem and determine improvements that could be made to their designs.

What: During this experiment, we altered the second step in the matter standard to work with our current curriculum. We used pumpkins to discover matter. The students independently explored the feel, size, shape, function, properties, etc. of various pumpkins. They were able to compare different pumpkins and their properties, how they are related and differ, and how their structure aids in their functionality. 

Oak Park Teachers take on PLTW

Our first PLTW meeting was a success!!