Building the Mayflower: it's sink or swim time!

 Before Thanksgiving break, my gifted 3rd graders tested their engineering skills by building Mayflower boats from foil, tape, and straws to see which could hold the most pennies. It was a fun, hands-on STEM challenge that taught them about design principles, like how a wide, flat-bottomed boat can hold more weight before sinking.

 

The winning team maxed out the penny load by using all 140 pennies! We then had to use heavier magnets to load on the weight. The winning group ended up using 140 pennies and 21 magnets! This 3rd grade team even beat out the 5th grade teams :)

Launching into learning!

 Recently, the students were tasked with designing a functioning catapult using only common household items: popsicle sticks, rubber bands, and plastic spoons. This project wasn't just about building; it was about problem-solving, collaboration, and understanding the engineering design process.

They worked in teams to figure out the best leverage points and tension needed to launch their candy pumpkins successfully. We saw incredible ingenuity in how they reinforced their structures and adjusted their launch angles!

 

The ultimate goal was to launch as many pumpkins (out of 25) onto the green pumpkin patch as possible. The classroom turned into a friendly testing ground as students measured distances, refined their techniques, and cheered on their peers! This was a lot of fun!

*Check out the video at the end :)

It's time to clear the pumpkin patch...

Our gifted 3rd-grade classes took on an exciting STEM challenge just in time for fall! Students were tasked with engineering a tool capable of picking up as many candy pumpkins as possible in a single "swipe."

The rules were strict: students could not touch the candy pumpkins with their hands during the challenge. The goal was for teams to clear the "pumpkin patch" in the fewest attempts possible, promoting efficient and creative design solutions.

It was incredible to watch these young engineers problem-solve and collaborate. From intricate claw mechanisms to wide-sweeping collection devices, each team developed a unique approach. The classroom was abuzz with critical thinking, trial and error, and joyous success as they tested their prototypes.

Congratulations to all our brilliant inventors on a job well done! 

S'mores with an alien?

Last week we finished our short space unit by teaching an alien how to make a snack!

First, students used a toilet paper roll and other art supplies to create an alien friend. Next, students were tasked with writing a set of easy-to-understand directions for making a chosen snack (s'more or pizza roll up). "Procedural writing" is actually quite difficult! Missing even small details can leave the one reading the directions confused. Students had to break down the steps necessary to make their snack and think of how to communicate those steps in the clearest way possible. The goal was to write directions so easy to understand that even an alien could follow them. We then set up our alien friends and, one at a time, I began reading the directions each student wrote. Students then made their snack according to the steps in their directions. There were some hiccups along the way, but the corrections were all in fun. This activity is a fun way to put a spin on an important writing skill!

The longest paper chain challenge...

Our gifted 3rd graders recently took on a fun, yet tricky, challenge: make the longest paper chain possible using just one sheet of paper and some tape. It sounds simple, right?

The students quickly realized that cutting traditional loops wouldn't produce the length they envisioned. This challenge required serious critical thinking, problem-solving, and a touch of engineering magic!

They brainstormed, experimented, and collaborated to find innovative ways to maximize every millimeter of their single sheet of paper. The room buzzed with excitement and ingenuity!

The results were phenomenal, with some groups creating chains that stretched to great lengths. It was incredible to see their teamwork and creative problem-solving in action.

This project was a fantastic reminder that a simple piece of paper can lead to monumental learning experiences when you encourage students to think outside the lines! They truly demonstrated the power of ingenuity and collaboration.