Plastic Bag Jump Rope

Earth Day Project:

Make a jump rope out of plastic bags! 

(Check out previous post for more Earth Day information.)

Check out Ella's (from Ms. Petry's class) Jump Rope!:

She even got her dog to help! Check out Ella's video of her using her new jump rope!

EARTH DAY (Everyday is Earth Day!)

What's Earth Day? Watch the video to learn more:

Protecting The Planet Starts With You:

(click the link below to find out more)

National Ocean Oceanic and Atmospheric Association  

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle:

Brainpopjr - Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Simple Machine Engineers

Thank you Nadianna and Jirhana, from Ms. Johnston's fourth grade class at Saccarappa, for submitting these simple machine videos. 
Can you name the simple machine in their video?

Jirhanna - Simple Machine Video

Nadianna - Simple Machines Part 1

Nadianna - Part 2

Emmanuel's Dream

Part 1:

          Listen to Emmanuel's Dream: The True Story Of Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah by, Laurie Ann Thompson and Sean Qualls 

Part 2:

Think about Emmanuel’s powerful message: Disability does not mean inability. What is a powerful message you would like to spread to the world? You can type it in the comments below or send to: colganc@westbrookschools.org

Part 3:

BIKE TO THE FUTURE:

The bicycle was invented in the 1800s. Research to see what early bikes looked like. How have bikes changed over the years? Why? What was wrong with the early models? Using what you learn, draw a picture of what you think bikes will look like in 50 years. How do you think they’ll change and why? Do you think people will still ride bikes, or will they be replaced by new technology? If so, what? (Watch the videos below for some information and ideas.) Draw a picture and send it to us at: 

colganc@westbrookschools.org 

gaulrappw@westbrookschools.org

Part 4:

          Watch the Evolution Of The Bicycle video:

           and Crazy Bikes You Have To See To Believe:

Egg Hollowing Out to Color

There are a lot of holidays happening right now for many people. At my house we will celebrate Easter tomorrow. My family had a blast with this art project, you don't need a holiday to join in on the fun!

Mindfulness Book and Activity

Listen to I Am Peace, A Book of Mindfulness - By Susan Verde & Art By Peter Reynolds. Following the reading, there is a mindful exercise for you to try.

Family Code Week

Live National Online Event April 13-18th

                                                            http://www.familycodenight.org/

Shark Drawings

Check out the shark drawings! Don't forget to look at Part 3: Engineering A Shark Cage - added to the Shark Lady Lesson blog 
post. 

   
Izzy's fantastic shark cage! 

  
Tyler - super cool shark! 

 Wesley, cool 3D shark! Thank you! 

 
Beautiful! Ben and Ella, thanks for sharing! 

I love all the added ocean features! Thanks Amelia!

Thanks Izzy! Cool shark picture! 



Anna, thanks for the picture! Great job!

Thanks for sending in your cool shark drawing, Ethan!

Shark Lady Lesson:

Part 1: 

       Read Shark Lady By, Jess Keating - Marta Álvarez Miguéns

Part 2:

       Watch the following video:

       Steps to Part 2:  (Scroll down for some help with this part.)

            1. Find a picture of a shark. Read some cool facts.

            2. Draw a picture of the shark.

            3. Label drawing with the shark name. 

            4. If you would like, post it! 

            5. Save for tomorrow's lesson.

Part 3:

      Engineering A Shark Cage:

       

       Research Help:

                               

                                                       

         How to Draw a Shark:

       Click here for some:

                             Cool Shark Facts!

Mystery Doug - LIVE!

Tuesday - April 7th - 1pm

https://mysteryscience.com/live

STEAM GoNoodle - MOVEMENT BREAK!

Pop See Ko - by, The Colgan Family

Build a Robot

Let's Make a Robot!!

In this challenge we ask that you use the Engineering Design Process steps that are in the diagram above. You will be creating a robot to help with learning at home! If someone at home can take a photo of your work you can email it to Mrs. Gaulrapp at gaulrappw@westbrookschools.org or to Mrs. Colgan at colganc@westbrookschools.org we would LOVE to see what you have been planning or creating!

1. ASK 

Students are learning from home instead of in our classrooms. How can a robot help to make learning at home more FUN for students or to HELP families with distance learning?

2. IMAGINE

Brainstorm ideas of what you will want your robot to look like.  The more you put into this step the easier it will be when it comes time to build your robot. Some questions that might help guide your thinking: 

      

3. PLAN

Using the best idea that you came up with in the IMAGINE step, sketch a blueprint or plan of a unique robot.  

                                  

4. CREATE

Put your robot plan into action! Build your robot, remember when things don't go as expected "the only true failure can come if you quit"! Just keep trying!

5. IMPROVE

Are there things that didn't work with your original plan? Did you come up with a new idea that helped make your robot better? If you answered yes, start the steps over at number one to help guide your improvements ASK, IMAGINE, PLAN, CREATE, IMPROVE! Until you have it the way you want it, don't give up! Have fun!

PHOTO GALLERY:

Nice job, Ari!!

Khali at Congin

STEAM BOT 2020

Blooming Fun!!

Almost two weeks ago we challenged all of our students to take a peek at changes that are happening outside as spring started, warmer weather has been coming our way and we have more hours of daylight.  I have really enjoyed observing the flowers blooming in my own garden and posting photos here to share with you since we can't be in our classroom together. I hope some of you have been able to get outside and make your own observations of where you live!

3/18/20

From bud to blossom. WHEN will my tree
look like this?

 Let's take it back to the beginning to see some of the changes that have taken place. Look at the forsythia tree buds from 3/18/20. I notice they are pretty tightly closed and they have a dark covering over the buds, they are mostly brown in color. They look a lot different than the bright yellow blossoms that will be blooming.....soon?

I didn't observe much change 3/20/20

WOW! Snow came on 3/24/20
It didn't seem to harm the buds on the tree

I WONDER....do you think that dark covering over the buds and having them closed tightly helped protect the flower that is growing inside? I sure hope so!

3/27/20

I observed the buds looking a little lighter in color but about the same size, showing very little blooming progress. This weekend I decided to cut some branches and bring them inside to put them in a vase with water.

Forsythia and Pussy Willow branches
on my dining room table

You may notice in the vase there are some other branches that my daughter Evi put in there. These are pussy willow branches that we discovered on one of our walks. The soft fuzzy little nubs were fun to touch and  really did remind us of our cats' paws which the branch is named for.




Now it's time for PREDICTIONS
1.  Think about the bud photos that I have posted above. Did you observe anything different than what I observed?

2. Do you think bringing some of the branches inside will change anything about the buds? If you say "YES" please post in the comments below your prediction of WHAT WILL HAPPEN and WHY. 



WE HAVE FLOWERS!

Let's look at the stages of blossoming!

first the bud turned green

then the bud started to open, flower petals are obvious

the end of the bud turned yellow

the petals started to open

 

TA-DA!!

Time lapse video of flower opening overnight

This is what the pussy willow looked like when we
put it in water with the forsythia

It bloomed also!