The Cricket Wicket Challenge!
Based off the game of cricket, students are challenged to design a ping pong ball launching machine that can hit an eraser off of a "wicket". They are awarded 100 points for every time they are successful. The device can only be made with materials from the "official" materials list. Points will be deducted based on the materials used. Their scores will be entered on the online Fluor Challenge contest site where they have a chance to win $1000 for our school!
The Northern Lights...
After learning the science behind these beautiful lights, students were exposed to some of the myths surrounding them. In turn, they created their own myths (How did the Northern Lights Come to Be?) and an amazing salt watercolor to go with it.
Arctic STEM Team Challenge!
First Challenge: Supplied with only (8) large marshmallows, (20) small marshmallows, (20) toothpicks and tape, students must construct the widest and tallest igloo possible. Their shelter must be sturdy and include a door opening. Teams will be awarded points for meeting the requirements along with cooperative work and planning.
How is Information Transferred?
Students learned how patterns are used to communicate information electronically. They were exposed to the Morse Code and used it to decipher messages. Third graders also learned that texts and images are transferred through a pattern of 1's and 0's. They used this same concept to create a pixelated image of an actual picture.
Robotic Arms!
Getting inspiration from the Mars Rover, students were challenged to build a working robotic arm that could pick up a marble.
Sphero Cities: Time to share out their projects!
Programming Sphero on their actual cities!
Learning how to program Sphero on a practice track...
In teams students came up with a city theme. They are working on blueprints of their cities and will eventually make it out of recyclables and program Sphero to navigate through it.
Intro Activity: Half Self Portraits
Toy Companies!
Third graders are off on a new adventure and are going into the toy business! Groups had to invent a new toy company, logo, mission statement, and motto. They will be creating a prototype of their toy and show it off to buyers at a trade show. Introducing...Better Life Toys and We Model Magic! Don't they look professional with their ID badges?
CREATE-URE
Can you design a never-before-seen CREATURE? Students have learned how animals protect themselves using camouflage and trickery as well as how teeth aid in eating/diet. Their challenge is to create a new creature and think about how they would get food, how they will move, and protect themselves from predators and climate. Their creature must be able to stand on its own without supports.
What To Do With a Box?
After reading this picture book, students brainstormed the many uses for a box beside storage. They are creating a new purpose for a 6x6x6 box. After drawing and labeling a model of their design, they are ready to build!
The Aurora Borealis!
The Northern Lights are magical! Students learned the scientific explanation of this natural phenomenon and some of its myths through virtual reality. Third graders then wrote their own myths about how the northern lights formed and were seen. Lastly, using watercolor and salt, they created their own version of the Northern Lights.
Sphero City Presentations!
Third graders did a fabulous job presenting their projects to another 3rd grade class. Each team created a Google Slide presentation and were able to demonstrate how Sphero was able to navigate around their cities.
Sphero Cities!
In teams, students must create a blueprint and construct their own cities using everyday materials. They will then program SPHERO to navigate through their city streets! Here they are in action...
Deserted Island STEM Challenges
We will be helping Houndstooth for the last time! He needs protection from pirates. Time for the catapult challenge! Third graders had to use a variety of materials to launch a pom-pom at least 12 inches. They came up with some very unique ways to create a catapult and each team beat the 12 inch mark!
Houndstooth is in trouble again and needs a shelter to protect him from the elements. The base of this shelter has to be at least 36 square inches, have a working door, be at least 5 " high and withstand a windstorm (blow dryer). Both teams did a terrific job!
Sir Harvey Houndstooth III needs help! He's stranded on a deserted island and needs food. Hungry crocodiles are below. Students had to build a bridge that could span the river (at least 12 in. long) using a variety of materials. After planning and building, we tested the sturdiness of their bridges by stacking erasers on them. The winning bridge held 29 bar erasers!!
Houndstooth is in trouble again and needs a shelter to protect him from the elements. The base of this shelter has to be at least 36 square inches, have a working door, be at least 5 " high and withstand a windstorm (blow dryer). Both teams did a terrific job!
Sir Harvey Houndstooth III needs help! He's stranded on a deserted island and needs food. Hungry crocodiles are below. Students had to build a bridge that could span the river (at least 12 in. long) using a variety of materials. After planning and building, we tested the sturdiness of their bridges by stacking erasers on them. The winning bridge held 29 bar erasers!!
What purpose could a 6x6x6 box have? That's the new 3rd grade challenge. Students are taking an ordinary box and creating something out of the ordinary
Third graders are learning about what is needed to complete a circuit. They are testing whether items are insulators or conductors with Makey Makey kits along with the Scratch coding program.
Now that the cities are built (Dino Candy City Park and Technologist City), it's time to program Sphero. Students are learning patience and perseverance as they change Sphero's speed, duration and direction to navigate through their city streets.
January 24, 2018
Sphero Cities! Third graders will have the opportunity to design a city specifically for Sphero to navigate through. They created a blueprint of their city and will begin creating their buildings from recyclable materials. The final stage will be programming Sphero. Here are the architects in action!
December 15, 2017
Now that our playgrounds are finished and on display in the library, it's time to move onto something new. Third graders completed the first of several "Deserted Island STEM Challenges"! They were required to construct a hut that was at least 5" tall, had a base of no more than 36 inches squared and a working door. They were given only certain supplies and one class period to complete their hut. It had to withstand a windstorm (my blow dryer).
November 21, 2017
We are now in the planning stage. Students are using their blueprints to actually create their designs using different materials.
November 6, 2017
Third graders are becoming architects! After learning how science can affect playgrounds and what makes them FUN, they are designing their own. Using a variety of classroom materials and recyclables, they will actually build their creation! Here's a few pictures of the planning stage...
September 25, 2017
Putting Math to Work! Third graders are working with quadrilaterals. What properties does a quadrilateral have? What makes them different from other shapes? Can you spot quadrilaterals around the room? Their culminating project will be a "Quadrilateral Robot"! There will be certain requirements that must be followed when creating this robot. For example, it must have an area of 80 inches, be symmetrical made only of quadrilaterals. The name of their robot will reflect its purpose. Students will write a descriptive story to go along with their creation.
September 14, 2017
After reading, I Like Myself, students were asked to create their own self portrait using a variety of random materials. They did an excellent job representing themselves!
Last Year's 3rd Graders
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May 12, 2017
Finally it's time to make a hot air balloon and launch it with the 4th grade GEM students at Reeds Road! Students designed their hot air balloons by choosing specific colors and are working on making the 10 gores they will put together.
April 20, 2017
Find the Shapes: Students will design a house that incorporates a variety of geometric elements such as squares, intersecting lines, hexagons, equilateral triangles, and congruent shapes. They will use rulers and protractors for precision.
April 7, 2017
The 3rd Grade Toy Company Trade Show was a huge success! A big thank you to all the parents who came out to support the students!
March 24, 2017
Here's our first official board meeting where student had to present their companies to each other.
February 27, 2017
Third graders are off on a new adventure and are going into the toy business! Groups had to invent a new toy company, logo and motto. They will be creating a prototype of their toy and show it off to buyers at a trade show. Don't they look professional with their ID badges?
February 9, 2017
Up, Up and Away! Did you know that the first passengers in a hot air balloon were not humans? A rooster, duck and a sheep took flight in 1783. Third graders are learning about the history of hot air balloons and what makes them float. Students independently viewed a few videos and jotted down some important facts. We also tested out the theory that hot air rises with a toaster, trash bag and some paper clips. Students learned that there needed to be evenly distributed weight at the bottom (ballast) to fly properly.
January:
What To Do With a Box? After reading this picture book, students brainstormed the many uses for a box besides storage. They are creating a new purpose for a 6x6x6 box. After drawing and labeling a model of their design, they are ready to build!
November:
Third graders are becoming island architects and have begun...The Deserted Island STEM Challenge! Teams are presented with a challenge in which is necessary to help a man survive on a deserted island. Each challenge has specific requirements that need to be fulfilled in order to be successful. For example, the first challenge involves constructing a hut that is at least 5 inches tall with a base no larger than 36 square inches. Their hut must also withstand a windstorm (a.k.a. blow dryer). They can choose from a selection of materials that they think would work the best. A solid plan and excellent teamwork are critical for success. Each challenge will be scored on a rubric as they will be competing with other students.
After some background on STEM, the third graders are involved in an exciting project. In teams, students must create a blueprint and construct their own cities using everyday materials. They will then program SPHERO to navigate through their city streets! Here they are in action...
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