1st Grade

1st grade students getting familiar with STEM building materials and working as a team to complete challenge task cards. The challenge here was "table".  

We read The Three Little Pigs. Students then worked with a partner to design a new house for the three little pigs. After designing, gathering materials, and building their house, they were able to test it against the Big Bad Blow Dryer! 

We read Frankie Stein in preparation for the big holiday coming up! Students were then tasked with designing, creating, and naming their very own monster in the Makerspace. The next week, we worked in the Tech Lab using the iPad app, ChatterPix Kids, to bring our creations to life! Check out some of the videos below.  

As Thanksgiving approached, we read Thanksgiving at the Tappletons' by Eileen Spinelli.  In our story, the Tappletons' Thanksgiving turkey slides out the door, into the yard, through the gate, down the street, and into the pond.  Our 1st grade students had to design and build a "fishing pole" to save the Thanksgiving turkey from the pond. Then we tested our inventions to see how well they worked. After a few redesigns, we had some successful turkey saviors! 

Run, run as fast as you can...

Students in first grade read the story of the Gingerbread Man then set out to solve the problem of moving the gingerbread man across the river without melting!  We discussed the differences between waterproof and absorbent materials. Then they had to design and create their boat to transport the gingerbread man. In the end, we had lots of happy gingerbread men! 

First grade students getting familiar with some new building materials called: Gears, Gears, Gears! Their goal was to build a gear system that would spin all the gears at once. 

We read Arlo Needs Glasses this week! Students designed and created their very own pair. We discussed how we might fail the first time and that's okay! It's all about perseverance and never giving up.