Hi students, teachers, and families,
After attending the ACTEM (the Association of Computer Technology Educators of Maine) conference last Friday, I am feeling energized and excited to share new technology resources with my students and colleagues of Wentworth. I was especially excited to attend a learning session on cad design and 3D printing. I learned that the 3D design tools we are using here at Wentworth are the optimal programs for student 3D design and printing. I also gained new insights into how we can utilize this amazing technology for student learning---more info to come in the future!
Grade level updates:
Third and Fourth
This week I will be trying out a new interactive lesson tool called Peardeck with third and fourth graders as they are introduced into the field of Earthquake Engineering. Students will also explore use of a special tool that earthquake engineers use called a shake table.
Fifth
This week, fifth graders will begin a lesson in Project Ignite (our cad learning portal) called "Let's Learn Tinkercad". Students will be able to practice their 3D design skills in Tinkercad by learning how to: navigate shapes on x,y,z axes, use shape menus, and scale, rotate, group, and manipulate shapes.
Stay tuned for Monday's STEM Question of the Week.
-Mrs. Athearn
Sunday, October 16, 2016
Monday, October 10, 2016
STEM Question of the Week
Participation is completely optional. Research the answers with your family or during STEM class if you finish your work early. Post your answer to the STEM Question of the Week in the comments of this blog post, on your child's Google Classroom, or bring a written answer to Mrs. Athearn in B101--Green STEM lab
Answers will be accepted until 2:45 on Friday. Winner will receive a certificate and pencil from Mrs. Athearn.
This week's topic is: Women in Computer Science
This week's question is: What is Ada Lovelace best known for?
Check out these research tools from our Learning Commons to find your answer:
https://sites.google.com/a/scarboroughschools.org/wentworth/learning-commons/online-resources
-Mrs. Athearn
Answers will be accepted until 2:45 on Friday. Winner will receive a certificate and pencil from Mrs. Athearn.
This week's topic is: Women in Computer Science
This week's question is: What is Ada Lovelace best known for?
Check out these research tools from our Learning Commons to find your answer:
https://sites.google.com/a/scarboroughschools.org/wentworth/learning-commons/online-resources
-Mrs. Athearn
STEM Class Updates for Oct.10-Oct.14
Hi students, teachers, and families,
3rd, 4th, and 5th graders did a great job last week setting up their Digital STEM Notebooks in Google Slides. Digital STEM Notebooks will be how students record and represent what they learn in STEM class this year. The notebook is digital so students can receive feedback and comments from me, share and collaborate on entries with classmates, and have a completely paperless, polished portfolio of STEM learning by the end of the year.
3rd and 4th graders will use their digital notebooks this week as they investigate what makes something a technology.
5th graders will be working on setting up their Project Ignite accounts this week, Project Ignite is a student and teacher portal for Tinkercad---the 3D modeling program that we use to create designs and prototypes in our CubePro 3D printers. 5th graders will be learning the ins and outs of 3D designing in Tinkercad for the next several weeks. Students will use their skills for a special design project for our school garden---more on that in the future!
Check out Project Ignite here: https://projectignite.autodesk.com/
-Mrs. Athearn
3rd, 4th, and 5th graders did a great job last week setting up their Digital STEM Notebooks in Google Slides. Digital STEM Notebooks will be how students record and represent what they learn in STEM class this year. The notebook is digital so students can receive feedback and comments from me, share and collaborate on entries with classmates, and have a completely paperless, polished portfolio of STEM learning by the end of the year.
3rd and 4th graders will use their digital notebooks this week as they investigate what makes something a technology.
5th graders will be working on setting up their Project Ignite accounts this week, Project Ignite is a student and teacher portal for Tinkercad---the 3D modeling program that we use to create designs and prototypes in our CubePro 3D printers. 5th graders will be learning the ins and outs of 3D designing in Tinkercad for the next several weeks. Students will use their skills for a special design project for our school garden---more on that in the future!
Check out Project Ignite here: https://projectignite.autodesk.com/
-Mrs. Athearn
Wednesday, September 21, 2016
Welcome back to STEM Class!
Dear students, teachers and families,
What an exciting first few weeks we've had here in STEM class! We've been working on the following engineering learning goal for all 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders:
I can use the Engineering Design Process (EDP) to create a technology that solves a problem with a specific set of criteria and constraints.
To meet this learning goal, Wentworth students have participated in two fun engineering challenges. We built model towers to save animals living along an alligator swamp, and we created catapults to use in a catapult painting project to solve Mrs. Athearn's problem of having blank and boring bulletin boards. The kids have also learned about potential and kinetic energy as they created, improved, and tested their catapults.
Check this blog often for weekly updates of the exciting things happening in STEM class this year! We'll be creating, tinkering, designing, engineering, and using lots of fun technologies.
Science Question of the Week
I will be posting a Science Question of the Week every week starting October 10, 2016. Questions will be posted on Monday on this blog, and students can research the answer in their choice time at school or at home with their families. Students can post their answer in the comments of the blog post, Google Classroom or bring a written answer to Mrs. Athearn in B101. Answers will be accepted up until 2:45 on Fridays and winners will be displayed on the Spinetix TVs the following week. Winners will be determined by having the first correct response delivered to Mrs. A. This is of course an optional and fun activity that kids can choose to participate in.
-Mrs. Athearn :)
What an exciting first few weeks we've had here in STEM class! We've been working on the following engineering learning goal for all 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders:
I can use the Engineering Design Process (EDP) to create a technology that solves a problem with a specific set of criteria and constraints.
To meet this learning goal, Wentworth students have participated in two fun engineering challenges. We built model towers to save animals living along an alligator swamp, and we created catapults to use in a catapult painting project to solve Mrs. Athearn's problem of having blank and boring bulletin boards. The kids have also learned about potential and kinetic energy as they created, improved, and tested their catapults.
Check this blog often for weekly updates of the exciting things happening in STEM class this year! We'll be creating, tinkering, designing, engineering, and using lots of fun technologies.
Science Question of the Week
I will be posting a Science Question of the Week every week starting October 10, 2016. Questions will be posted on Monday on this blog, and students can research the answer in their choice time at school or at home with their families. Students can post their answer in the comments of the blog post, Google Classroom or bring a written answer to Mrs. Athearn in B101. Answers will be accepted up until 2:45 on Fridays and winners will be displayed on the Spinetix TVs the following week. Winners will be determined by having the first correct response delivered to Mrs. A. This is of course an optional and fun activity that kids can choose to participate in.
-Mrs. Athearn :)
Tuesday, May 17, 2016
Green Engineering Projects Update!!
Hello friends!
The students of Wentworth have been very busy working on their green engineering projects in STEM class. I am really impressed with the different ways that students are choosing to use recycled materials to create inventions that will soon be "powered up" by our LittleBits electronics, if they have not added LittleBits already. I am equally impressed with the students' creativity using Tinkercad to create 3D logos with Earth Day messages. We will be wrapping up these projects in the next two weeks, and then we will be finishing out our year with some smaller LittleBits' projects including making bubble machines and art-bots.
Check out some photos and videos of the students' hard work below!
-Mrs. A
Little Drummer Invention powered up by LittleBits servo motors!
The students of Wentworth have been very busy working on their green engineering projects in STEM class. I am really impressed with the different ways that students are choosing to use recycled materials to create inventions that will soon be "powered up" by our LittleBits electronics, if they have not added LittleBits already. I am equally impressed with the students' creativity using Tinkercad to create 3D logos with Earth Day messages. We will be wrapping up these projects in the next two weeks, and then we will be finishing out our year with some smaller LittleBits' projects including making bubble machines and art-bots.
Check out some photos and videos of the students' hard work below!
-Mrs. A
Little Drummer Invention powered up by LittleBits servo motors!
Recycled Kitty Car!
Basketball Court!
Lego Car!
Recycled Creature Car!
Petite Recycled Car!
Wolf Invasive Species Logo Created in Tinkercad
Earth Day Message Logos Printing in 3D Printer!
Friday, April 29, 2016
Update for the week of April 25, 2016
Hello teachers, students, and families,
I hope everyone had a nice spring break! I took some time to celebrate Earth Day over vacation and do some planting in my hay-bale gardens and clean up some litter around my neighborhood. I heard from many students about other ways they celebrated Earth Day like planting trees, conserving water or energy, and just spending time in nature. As we continue to study Green Engineering in STEM class, I hope students and families will be inspired to make small changes that can help protect and preserve our natural resources here in Scarborough and across the beautiful state of Maine. Below is an update on grades 3 and 4 STEM learning for this week!
Monday's and Friday's Classes:
Third and Fourth graders are continuing to work on their 3D printing project with an Earth Day/Green Living theme. The kids are learning the basic tools and functions of Tinkercad---our free online 3D modeling program, and using an online research tool--PowerKnowledge Life Science, to complete research of their choice about a Green Living topic to promote an Earth Day message. Kids choose a topic about Green Living and environmental science of their choice like global warming, recycling, or using energy efficient technologies, learn about that topic, and come up with a simple message that can be represented on a 3D logo design that we create in Tinkercad. The message should be simple and realistic---a small change or difference that everyday people like us can make to help the Earth.
Tuesday's, Wednesday's, and Thursday's Classes:
Third and Fourth graders are continuing on to the CREATE step of the Engineering Design Process as they design a recycled invention inspired by the Recycling Marketplace in Senegal, Africa. Kids collected recycled materials, and then imagined and planned the criteria for what their invention must do or be. Next, students made a detailed plan for creating their invention as well as, a plan for "Powering-Up" their invention using our LittleBits electronic modules. Some kids are making cars, model houses, and even a donut machine! I can't wait to see these inventions next week as we add artistic detail by painting and decorating the inventions.
Have a great weekend all!
Mrs. A
I hope everyone had a nice spring break! I took some time to celebrate Earth Day over vacation and do some planting in my hay-bale gardens and clean up some litter around my neighborhood. I heard from many students about other ways they celebrated Earth Day like planting trees, conserving water or energy, and just spending time in nature. As we continue to study Green Engineering in STEM class, I hope students and families will be inspired to make small changes that can help protect and preserve our natural resources here in Scarborough and across the beautiful state of Maine. Below is an update on grades 3 and 4 STEM learning for this week!
Monday's and Friday's Classes:
Third and Fourth graders are continuing to work on their 3D printing project with an Earth Day/Green Living theme. The kids are learning the basic tools and functions of Tinkercad---our free online 3D modeling program, and using an online research tool--PowerKnowledge Life Science, to complete research of their choice about a Green Living topic to promote an Earth Day message. Kids choose a topic about Green Living and environmental science of their choice like global warming, recycling, or using energy efficient technologies, learn about that topic, and come up with a simple message that can be represented on a 3D logo design that we create in Tinkercad. The message should be simple and realistic---a small change or difference that everyday people like us can make to help the Earth.
Tuesday's, Wednesday's, and Thursday's Classes:
Third and Fourth graders are continuing on to the CREATE step of the Engineering Design Process as they design a recycled invention inspired by the Recycling Marketplace in Senegal, Africa. Kids collected recycled materials, and then imagined and planned the criteria for what their invention must do or be. Next, students made a detailed plan for creating their invention as well as, a plan for "Powering-Up" their invention using our LittleBits electronic modules. Some kids are making cars, model houses, and even a donut machine! I can't wait to see these inventions next week as we add artistic detail by painting and decorating the inventions.
Have a great weekend all!
Mrs. A
Thursday, April 7, 2016
Updates for Trimester 3: Green Engineering and 3D Design: April 7, 2016
Hello students, teachers, and families,
First of all I want to give everyone an update of the Trimester 3 STEM Class and Curriculum Schedule. Trimester 3 brings 22 classes in grades 3 and 4 to my STEM classroom. With this amount of students, and limited supplies, I have organized the trimester to ensure that each student gets to participate in some exciting hands-on engineering challenges, as well as, technology-immersion projects that force the kids to innovate and think creatively. The overall theme for everyone is Green Engineering! Here is a breakdown:
Monday and Friday classes
4 weeks working on designing a 3D logo in Tinkercad for Earth Day
3-4 weeks working on a designing a Recycled Racer Car using recycled materials
1-2 weeks for LittleBits invention project
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday classes
4 weeks working on designing a Recycled Racer Car or Recycled Invention using recycled materials
3-4 weeks using the LittleBits to "power up" Recycled Racer or Invention
1-2 weeks for 3D designing in Sketch-Up
Notices have gone home for classes that are in need of recycled materials for the Recycled Racer Car or Recycled Invention project. Students can still bring in items that are free of peanuts or tree-nuts, glass or sharp edges. Cardboard boxes and plastic bottles or containers work best for this project, but the kids should bring in anything they think could work for wheels and axles or any other part of their project. Future notices will be sent home for the other classes that will be working on this project later in May.
As always, feel free to drop me an email at sathearn@scarboroughschools.org with any questions!
-Mrs. A
First of all I want to give everyone an update of the Trimester 3 STEM Class and Curriculum Schedule. Trimester 3 brings 22 classes in grades 3 and 4 to my STEM classroom. With this amount of students, and limited supplies, I have organized the trimester to ensure that each student gets to participate in some exciting hands-on engineering challenges, as well as, technology-immersion projects that force the kids to innovate and think creatively. The overall theme for everyone is Green Engineering! Here is a breakdown:
Monday and Friday classes
4 weeks working on designing a 3D logo in Tinkercad for Earth Day
3-4 weeks working on a designing a Recycled Racer Car using recycled materials
1-2 weeks for LittleBits invention project
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday classes
4 weeks working on designing a Recycled Racer Car or Recycled Invention using recycled materials
3-4 weeks using the LittleBits to "power up" Recycled Racer or Invention
1-2 weeks for 3D designing in Sketch-Up
Notices have gone home for classes that are in need of recycled materials for the Recycled Racer Car or Recycled Invention project. Students can still bring in items that are free of peanuts or tree-nuts, glass or sharp edges. Cardboard boxes and plastic bottles or containers work best for this project, but the kids should bring in anything they think could work for wheels and axles or any other part of their project. Future notices will be sent home for the other classes that will be working on this project later in May.
As always, feel free to drop me an email at sathearn@scarboroughschools.org with any questions!
-Mrs. A
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