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January 2025
A New Year - New Projects to Share
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1ST GRADE
How can my dreams develop into something bigger than myself?
Unit 2 - Dream Big - Exploration
Students completed their study of Simon Rodia and his Watts Towers. They practiced presentation skills by sharing with Mrs. Russell and each other. The presentation included a reading of a brochure about Simon and a report about the Watts Towers. They also described all the pieces they chose to include in their very own Watts Towers' replica.
Presenting The End of Unit Products
Presenting The End of Unit Products
2ND GRADE
How can following the engineering process help me productively solve problems?
Unit 2 - Garbage Cars - Engineering
Students completed their garbage car products. They documented Garbage Car "trends" as they reflected on what worked and what didn't work in the line of completed and tested cars. They also helped Mrs. Russell create a wonderful display of their final products to share with the comminuty and their friends.
Garbage Car Final Products
Gym Display Case
Final Presentations & Conclusions
3RD GRADE
How can we solve and use puzzles to find the solution to a greater mystery?
Unit 2 - Detective Work - Critical Thinking
Students are completing the reading of The Eleventh Hour. They have just discovered who ate the feast after working so hard with their table teams to decode several messages and find clues hidden in the book's illustrations. Kilroy the mouse and his 110 friends are guilty! These detectives were careful to follow the evidence and not jump to conclusions.
Decoding with Morse Code
Sharing the Final Message
4TH GRADE
How can my ideas develop into entrepreneurship?
Unit 2 - Entrepreneur Study - Collaboration
Students have completed a book study about the man who created Lego. They are gaining inspiration from his story to complete various Lego challenges and products, using the Lego theory, "system of play." Understanding how Lego became a successful company despite loss and failures has become another source of inspiration. Students have completed 4 battle rounds of book questions, which has created some friendly competition and much excitement along the way.
Quick Build Instant Challenge
Build A Toy That Prepares You for Life
A Book Battle
5TH GRADE
How can my gifts and talents help me change the world?
Unit 2 - Affordable and Clean Energy Study - Innovation
Students are in the create, test and improve phase of the engineering process as they use a budget along with lots of trial and error to build a windmill or wind turbine prototype. Discovering how the blades have to be constructed to create lift and to spin when wind is applied has only been part of their greatest challenge. Building a base that supports the blades and remains standing when the wind blows is requiring lots of testing and improvements.
Staying in Budget for the Windmill/Turbine Protype
Testing Construction
How much energy will it produce?
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