This week's topic is: Computer Science
This week's question is: In honor of computer science education week, what is an algorithm and a program in computer science?
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
https://kiddle.co
-Mrs. A
Sunday, December 4, 2016
STEM Class updates: Week of December 5, 2016
Dear families, teachers, and students,
It has been a very busy few weeks in the STEM classroom. I hope everyone had a restful Thanksgiving break with friends and family. As I reflected on the year that has passed, I realized how thankful I am to work in such a amazing school in such a wonderful and education-minded community. I feel lucky to come to Wentworth and teach these inspiring children everyday!
Grade level updates below!
Grade 5
5th graders are wrapping up several weeks of learning the ins and outs of 3D modeling in Tinkercad. Students learned how to translate, navigate, nudge, rotate, scale, align and mirror shapes in Tinkercad. Students also learned boolean operations of adding and subtracting 3D shapes in Tinkercad. Students will now move on to using the engineering design process to imagine, plan, create, and improve and final 3D design to be printed in our 3D printers. Choice projects include baseball field models, name keychains, miniature log cabins, and animal faces.
Stay tuned for pictures!
Grades 3 and 4
3rd and 4th graders are continuing to be earthquake engineers and have finally finished testing model buildings on our model shake tables to create earthquake-safe building codes. Students tested their models for the best shape and size, the best foundation, and the best use of braces between support beams tested at a 7.0 magnitude simulated earthquake. Students are now planning a final earthquake safe model building using the building codes they created in testing. Final buildings will need to meet certain design criteria and budget constraints depending on the type of building being constructed. Choices include a hospital, a library, apartment building, or house.
Below are some pictures of the models in earthquake testing,
December 5th kicks off computer science education week! I look forward to participating in Wentworth's Hour of Code events the week before winter vacation!
Have a great week everyone!
-Mrs. Athearn
It has been a very busy few weeks in the STEM classroom. I hope everyone had a restful Thanksgiving break with friends and family. As I reflected on the year that has passed, I realized how thankful I am to work in such a amazing school in such a wonderful and education-minded community. I feel lucky to come to Wentworth and teach these inspiring children everyday!
Grade level updates below!
Grade 5
5th graders are wrapping up several weeks of learning the ins and outs of 3D modeling in Tinkercad. Students learned how to translate, navigate, nudge, rotate, scale, align and mirror shapes in Tinkercad. Students also learned boolean operations of adding and subtracting 3D shapes in Tinkercad. Students will now move on to using the engineering design process to imagine, plan, create, and improve and final 3D design to be printed in our 3D printers. Choice projects include baseball field models, name keychains, miniature log cabins, and animal faces.
Stay tuned for pictures!
Grades 3 and 4
3rd and 4th graders are continuing to be earthquake engineers and have finally finished testing model buildings on our model shake tables to create earthquake-safe building codes. Students tested their models for the best shape and size, the best foundation, and the best use of braces between support beams tested at a 7.0 magnitude simulated earthquake. Students are now planning a final earthquake safe model building using the building codes they created in testing. Final buildings will need to meet certain design criteria and budget constraints depending on the type of building being constructed. Choices include a hospital, a library, apartment building, or house.
Below are some pictures of the models in earthquake testing,
December 5th kicks off computer science education week! I look forward to participating in Wentworth's Hour of Code events the week before winter vacation!
Have a great week everyone!
-Mrs. Athearn
Tuesday, November 29, 2016
STEM Question of the Week: Week 8
This week's topic is: Earthquakes
This week's question is:
3rd and 4th graders have recently been studying earthquake engineering. We are learning that an earthquake is caused by a sudden slip on a fault where tectonic plates are moving very slowly on the hot molten rock core of the earth. What do scientists call the places where two plates crash and crunch together?
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
https://kiddle.co
-Mrs. A
This week's question is:
3rd and 4th graders have recently been studying earthquake engineering. We are learning that an earthquake is caused by a sudden slip on a fault where tectonic plates are moving very slowly on the hot molten rock core of the earth. What do scientists call the places where two plates crash and crunch together?
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
https://kiddle.co
-Mrs. A
Sunday, November 13, 2016
STEM Question of the Week: Week 6
This week's topic is: 3D Design
This week's question is: What does CAD stand for in Tinkercad?
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
https://kiddle.co
-Mrs. A
This week's question is: What does CAD stand for in Tinkercad?
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
https://kiddle.co
-Mrs. A
Sunday, November 6, 2016
STEM Question of the Week: Week 5
This week's topic is: Daylight Saving Time
This week's question is: What is the basic purpose of Daylight Saving Time and when was it first signed into law in the United States?
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
https://kiddle.co
-Mrs. A
This week's question is: What is the basic purpose of Daylight Saving Time and when was it first signed into law in the United States?
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
https://kiddle.co
-Mrs. A
Sunday, October 30, 2016
STEM Class updates Oct. 31st-Nov.4th, 2016
Hi friends! Here's an update of what's happening in Mrs. Athearn's STEM Class:
Grade 5: 3D Printing and Tinkercad
I'm super excited to announce that Mr. Johnson and I got one of our 3D printers up and running last week! We've been making test prints to find the right dimensions for printing student designs for our 5th graders as they continue to learn 3D modeling in Tinkercad. Mrs. MacKenzie's class also got to help us out with test printing last week. 3D printing is a wonderful way to engage the students in learning, because they are so motivated to see their imaginations come to life in 3D form, however due to the time and cost associated with 3D printing, it is important to scale designs down to a small size to ensure that all students can print at least one project this year. I'll try to post some pictures of our designs as we print them.
To see what your child is creating, have them log on to their Project Ignite account from this url:
https://projectignite.autodesk.com/
Grades 3 and 4: Earthquake Engineering
Last week, students in grades 3 and 4 learned about the the need for earthquake engineering and the 2010 earthquake in the island country of Haiti. We learned that Haiti was hit by a 7.0 magnitude earthquake and most buildings, large and small, were completely destroyed. We also learned that part of why Haiti was so devastated was because construction codes, or safety rules for building, were not being enforced. Students also got to experiment with a shake table. Engineers use shake tables to test if buildings will survive an earthquake or not. Students will use shake tables again this week to test model structures and collect data about what types of building designs will be the most earthquake resistant. Students will use this data to come up with their own model construction codes that will be used to build a final earthquake resistant structure in a few weeks.
To see a life-size shake table in action at the University of California-San Diego, click on the link below:
https://youtu.be/duzcOkzwpDo?list=PLyy_4z9b5NrwmJYv2wBWuJT2DEsZwwUqn
Happy Halloween Everyone!
-Mrs. Athearn :)
Grade 5: 3D Printing and Tinkercad
I'm super excited to announce that Mr. Johnson and I got one of our 3D printers up and running last week! We've been making test prints to find the right dimensions for printing student designs for our 5th graders as they continue to learn 3D modeling in Tinkercad. Mrs. MacKenzie's class also got to help us out with test printing last week. 3D printing is a wonderful way to engage the students in learning, because they are so motivated to see their imaginations come to life in 3D form, however due to the time and cost associated with 3D printing, it is important to scale designs down to a small size to ensure that all students can print at least one project this year. I'll try to post some pictures of our designs as we print them.
To see what your child is creating, have them log on to their Project Ignite account from this url:
https://projectignite.autodesk.com/
Grades 3 and 4: Earthquake Engineering
Last week, students in grades 3 and 4 learned about the the need for earthquake engineering and the 2010 earthquake in the island country of Haiti. We learned that Haiti was hit by a 7.0 magnitude earthquake and most buildings, large and small, were completely destroyed. We also learned that part of why Haiti was so devastated was because construction codes, or safety rules for building, were not being enforced. Students also got to experiment with a shake table. Engineers use shake tables to test if buildings will survive an earthquake or not. Students will use shake tables again this week to test model structures and collect data about what types of building designs will be the most earthquake resistant. Students will use this data to come up with their own model construction codes that will be used to build a final earthquake resistant structure in a few weeks.
To see a life-size shake table in action at the University of California-San Diego, click on the link below:
https://youtu.be/duzcOkzwpDo?list=PLyy_4z9b5NrwmJYv2wBWuJT2DEsZwwUqn
Happy Halloween Everyone!
-Mrs. Athearn :)
STEM Question of the Week: Week 4
This week's topic is: Earthquakes in America
This week's question is: Where and in what year did the strongest recorded earthquake in the United States occur? It was recorded as a 9.2 magnitude earthquake on the Richter scale!
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
https://kiddle.co
-Mrs. A
This week's question is: Where and in what year did the strongest recorded earthquake in the United States occur? It was recorded as a 9.2 magnitude earthquake on the Richter scale!
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
https://kiddle.co
-Mrs. A
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