Update December 8th!

Hello Everyone,

Just a quick update to bring everyone up to speed with what we have been doing in the classroom!

Unit Work – Science:

We continue to talk about simple machines and how they are used in more complex technology!

  • We used rulers and blocks to do a CANTILEVER balancing challenge in groups,
  • We looked at how cantilevers are used in bridges and cranes,
  • We read about fixed and movable pulleys and tried to make some of our own to deliver messages across the classroom,
  • Ms. D set up a fixed pulley clothesline system across the classroom to deliver messages,
  • Ms. D brought in some 3D printed pulleys and spring scales to experiment with lifting loads and reducing the force required,
  • Students had opportunities to either play with or build mini machines using hydraulics and simple machines,
  • We used iPads to play the game Simple Physics to explore cantilevers and other physics principles in contruction,
  • Students experimented with inclined planes while playing with “Build Your Own Wooden Pinball” engineering sets from the AWIM Engineering Design Group, and
  • We read together multiple picture books showing the many simple machines INSIDE of other, more complex machines, which led to interesting conversation!

We have been doing a lot of great experimenting in class! Pictures to come as soon as I can get them all re-sized and posted.

We also began talking about mechanical advantage and how WORK is expressed in joules, FORCE is expressed in Newtons, and DISTANCE is expressed in meters as we solve math equations about force! W=F x D. Our next step is to do some experimenting with forces and ramps AND to build a Rube Goldberg machine!

Unit Work – Socials:

We read two entertaining picture books called Nerdy Birdie Tweets and The Fabulous Friend Machine, which led to great conversations about how social media has impacted our lives. Students discussed the pros and cons of new technology for communication, and then they made lists in their journals of the top ways to ensure social media safety!

We created a larger list of all technologies out there, and then as a class began deciding whether those technologies were positive or negative for humanity and the health of the planet. A week ago, through a group web activity, we discussed how all technologies have an impact, as their existence and/or use is interconnected to the environment, to natural resources, and to all aspects of our lives. Each student chose 5 technologies or inventions and wrote the positive and negative impacts. This handout was due Friday morning.

All of this work is preparing us for a final project in which students have to choose an invention they believe has had the greatest impact AND prove their case through research. We will also be having classroom debates on the impact of video games and social media.

Thank you for all of the great TIMELINE work you did, showing how CREATIVE THINKING has been used over time to make technologies! You can see some of the timelines in the hallway near the music room, and then some I will find room for in the classroom.

Math:

Some of our math is interconnected with the unit, as we have started discussing mechanical advantage, which will require some math equations, problem solving, and multiplication!

We also have been doing measurement! I encourage everyone to find measuring tools at home and to practice using both metric and imperial systems to measure! Find ways to use and to discuss measurement at home as we explore it at school!

Math survey projects are now complete and marks are going home Monday. Some of the projects are displayed in our classroom.

Language Arts:

Based on our work from the TED Talks, we will continue to work on areas of grammar and language students need to review, such as parts of speech, sentence construction, transition words, and proper paragraphing. We will also continue to work on advanced vocabulary lists throughout the rest of term two, such as the Greek and Latin word list we have used to invent new words, to write pretend magical spells, or to create new monsters from our imaginations.

In connection with our unit, we are reading the book City of Ember, to further discuss what the world would be like without technology or with scarce resources. Students are primarily reading the books in class and answer questions as we go. We are also analyzing the book through the READING POWER model, which I will talk about more in a future post.

Holiday FUN!

This month is all about MAKING as we get ready for the holidays. So far, we have made three mini projects, and there will be more to come next week! We participated in the HOUR OF CODE on December 8th, and I hope to bring out other technology tidbits before we go to break.

We are doing a Secret Santa and each person, if they chose to participate, was assigned a person from class. Each person provided a wish list of 3 items that are under $5. Please do not spend more than that on Secret Santa. Made items are totally okay, too, although do try to follow the wish list as possible.

Reminder to be looking for WHITE ELEPHANT gifts, too, as you voted as a class to have this fun gift game again on Dec. 22nd! Only find one if you will be there that day. Guidelines:

  • If you can’t find a gift, please see Ms. D  — I will help!
  • Please avoid food and used stuffies, as we have lots of allergies in the class
  • Gift items do not have to be expensive and can be any recycled gift you have
  • Ideas: books you have read before, gifts you received you don’t want, toys you are done playing with, building/making supplies, craft kits you aren’t going to use, or mugs/kitchen items you don’t want anymore.
  • Gifts should be clean and usable
  • Gifts should be wrapped without any names on them at all
  • Gifts can be hidden inside of other boxes to fool the people choosing them 

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Ms. D directly via email, not on the blog. Thank you!

Happy Holidays and have a good weekend!

Ms. D