Paper Bag Basket Challenge

Another fun problem solving challenge!

After planning, building, testing, and revising, the students were ready to see which bags made the cut!

Closing Circle

We end each day with a closing circle. Somedays we each share one word to describe our day. Other days we name something we would love to do later in the week. A favorite of the kiddos is called circle of hands. They interlock thumbs to create a circle!

Can You Build a Toy From a Cardboard Tube?

Today's challenge was inspired by the book, The Most Magnificent Thing. 

A little girl loves to tinker and build so she sets out to build something magnificent. It doesn't go according to plan and she gets angry to the point of almost giving up. After taking a break, she can see the magnificent work she has all around her and combines her ideas to make the most magnificent thing ever! 

We talked about the lesson she learned and how we can apply that to our own learning. The kiddos continue to refer to Rosie Revere and her first time flop and it makes my heart tingle with excitement!!!

I showed the kids a cardboard tube from a papertowel roll and asked them what they could build. Their challenge would be to create a toy from the papertowel roll. 

Step 1. Brainstorm. List or sketch as many ideas as you can.

Step 2. Choose one idea and share with a buddy. Give and get feedback on how to build the toy.

Step 3. Sketch and plan your idea. 

Step 4. Build your prototype!!!

Step 5. Reflect. Share your toy with a buddy and explain how it works. Were you successful? Why or why not?

The children took home their prototypes to share with their families! 

Elite Eagles

Our SLC is named Elite Eagles. We met with our families today (2,3,4, and 5 grades combined) to design a logo for our SLC. The kids collaborated in groups of mixed grades to complete a design. 

Thinkbooks

We use Thinkbooks to record our thinking- questions, facts we know, wonderings....

Playground Fun

Recess is a very important part of our day. Learning to interact with others, build friendships, and have empathy is JUST as important as math and literacy. 

What is Fact Fluency?

Part of fact fluency is using known facts to solve unknown facts. It is understanding flexibility between numbers and using that to efficiently solve an unknown fact. It is using and explaining your strategy. 

What Do Author's Write?

The students came up with a "wish list" of what they would love to write this year. 

Below, a few eager authors began fiction stories!

Reading Journals

We will use reading journals to document our thoughts as we read independently and as a class. Our first entry was after we read Beekle by Dan Santat. 

The students drew an imaginary friend of their own and wrote about adventures they would share.

Can you build a ramp and a vehicle that rolls?

Today's challenge was two-part. First the teams were told to build a ramp. We discussed what a ramp is and gave a few examples. We did not say how big it needed to be or what they would be using on the ramp. 

Some teams completed this part rather quickly while others debated what materials to use for the ramp. This was the first time they were not given specific materials for a challenge. 

After each team had constructed a ramp they were told the next part of the challenge was to build a vehicle that rolls down the ramp. We discussed the difference between sliding and rolling. The kiddos had several examples of what a vehicle might be: dirt bike, Jeep, electric scooter, car....

To build the vehicles they were given lifesavers, index cards, coffee stirrers, thin wooden sticks, popscicle sticks, two different size straws, tape, and scissors. They tested their vehicles as they built. 

In the end we had a variety of vehicles that successfully rolled down the ramps. 

We used one large ramp to test each group's vehicle as a class. 

Finally, we raced the vehicles to see which made it down first. 

The most challenging part was agreed by all- getting the wheels to stay on yet also roll. 

The best part was watching the vehicle successfully roll down the ramp and was also agreed by all. 

I asked what they learned and I heard- 

Never give up

Listen to your teammates

Learn from mistakes

Can you build a slide with two tracks?

Last week's problem solving challenge was to build a slide. We added several new challenges as we went. First they were told to simply build a slide with a few sheets of paper, tape, and scissors. 

Next, they were told to extend their slides longer. 

Third, they were told to build two tracks so the pompoms would fall down either side. 

Short slide

Longer slide!

This group worked through several challenges such as the pompom falling out of the tunnel before it went down the final track. They persevered and were successful! Notice the flap added under the first tunnel to ensure the pompom stayed in the track! 

This group went with an open slide and I wasn't sure if the pompom would stay on the slide or how they would build a second track...but they knew what to do! Never underestimate an invested learner!

Look at this intricate design! They worked hard the entire time and their final slide was amazing.

This team attempted several variations and decided this was their favorite!

This group had a plan the entire time and knew exactly what they wanted it to look like in the end. They made several adjustments and the pompom went through the slides without getting stuck!

When asked what the most challenging part was, several said: "making sure the pompom went down either side of the track". 

We love remembering what we learned from Rosie Revere Engineer, a first flop failure leads to success!