Today we discussed what we would be learning in class this year and then we read a picture book about Kandisky who was a great Russian artist who had synesthesia. After that, we began working on our own version of Kandinksy's art by integrating some math skills!
Today we finished up our Kandinsky Math and Art project. It was very fun to see most of the students work diligently on art and math connections. we won't meet next week due to Labor Day. When we resume, we'll start learning about neurology and the brain!
Today we started a big unit on our brains! We started by activating our brains in a room escape. We are also trying to gather knowledge about neurons and how neurons function. For our book RESTART, we're learning about how Chase's neurons misfire. In our next book, we'll also be learning about the brain!
Today we reviewed the parts of the neuron that our escape room puzzles were designed to help us determine. Then, we used Craft materials to make a model of a neuron.
Today we reviewed how neurons send messages to other neurons in our brain. We also did a simulation for what happened to Chase's neurons when he had his traumatic brain incident. Then we had some open stem time with a twist. Students had to complete an open stem activity (contraptions, roller coaster builder, domino effect, etc.), but then they had to explain how their game was a simulation of a neuron.
Today we labeled our model of our neurons and some people remembered to take them home (but some did not!). When we return from break, we'll still be working on neurology/brain science as that theme fits with our new book Phineas Gage!
Today we started a new experiment to see how quickly our neurons can fire! We studied our reaction time with a visual cue and an auditory cue. Students completed 5 trials of each round and recorded data. Then we average the data. We also did a class comparison of data. We will continue this experiement next week and introduce distractions. We will also work on how to write up our findings in a lab report.
Today we finished up our reaction time trials with our non dominant hand test and a distraction test. Students also averaged up their reaction times and we will work on writing up this information in a science lab report over the next few weeks. We will also begin an egg drop challenge. We will start working on this one next week as well. As you go throughout your week, if you see materials that might be good for an egg drop challenge, please send those in. We will be using those materials to test our structures. We will be building and testing these in class, so we're sure to have a lot of fun over the next few weeks! This ties to Phineas because we are building structures to protect our brains "eggs"!
Today we analyzed our data from our reaction time test. Then we also started thinking about what our egg drop design will be for next week. If you are able to send in any of the following supplies, that would be so helpful--straws, cotton balls, rubber bands, string, cardboard, foam. We will be using the STEAM store to "purchase" items for our build next week in class.
Today we had our egg drop! We had three successes and the rest were failures in the sense that the eggs broke. Of course, nothing is a failure when you are doing science.
Today we started graphing on a coordinate grid. We used all four quadrants. This was new for a lot of the students. When we are finished, we will have a mystery picture plotted out!
Today we reviewed how to plot points on a four-quadrant coordinate grid and continued working on our Christmas sweaters. This came home today!