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STEAM Cycle 22

1/26/2017

 

Kindergarten-Exploration Stations 2

The structure of specific organs relate to the function(s) they perform.  The students explored the structure of bone, muscle, the lungs, and the stomach.  As the students interacted with models, they recorded their observations and described the structure of each part.

1st Grade-Patterns of the Moon 2

The students learned about the moon and how we see can see it even though it does not produce its own light. Students observed and documented patterns of the moon, including the apparent movement of the moon through the night sky and phases of the moon.
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2nd Grade-Water, Water Everywhere 2

After learning about different types of maps, students identified where bodies of water are found in both liquid and solid states using Google Earth on the iPads.  We then compared and contrasted utilizing paper maps and electronic maps.

3rd Grade-Inheritance Practice

As we continue through our PLTW unit about the variation of traits, the students learned that every person inherits two copies of each gene from their mother and father.  They used a Google Doc to take notes and describe how a person's genes and environmental influences determine our physical characteristics and abilities.

4th Grade-Information Highway 2

During the last cycle the students learned that computers store information in binary code (1s and 0s).  Each code represents text.  Using the iPads and an editable PDF, the students converted data to and from binary code.  This cycle we looked at how computers store images.  Students learned about pixels and how each pixel is represented by a 0 and 1.  They created their own pixel images and wrote Run Length Encoding that was deciphered by a partner.

5th Grade-Infection Fighters

Using the Canvas App on the iPad, the students are able to connect to our PLTW activities.  The students accessed a PLTW presentation about our body's defenses against germs.  The students learned about skin cilia, lymph nodes, and mucus.

STEAM Cycle 21

1/20/2017

 

Kindergarten-Exploration Stations

The structure of specific organs relate to the function(s) they perform.  The students explored the structure of bone, muscle, the lungs, and the stomach.  As the students interacted with models, they recorded their observations and described the structure of each part.

1st Grade-Patterns of the Moon

The students learned about the moon and how we see can see it even though it does not produce its own light. Students observed and documented patterns of the moon, including the apparent movement of the moon through the night sky and phases of the moon.  The students were able to explore the moon's phases using an iPad app that focuses on the moon.

2nd Grade-Water, Water Everywhere

After learning about different types of maps, students identified where bodies of water are found in both liquid and solid states using Google Earth on the iPads.  We then compared and contrasted utilizing paper maps and electronic maps.

3rd Grade-All About Inheritance

Students learned that individuals have two copies of each gene, one from their mother and one from their father.  They described how a person’s genes determine some aspects of their physical characteristics and abilities and given a specific genotype, determined the associated phenotype.

4th Grade-Information Highway

The students learned that computers store information in binary code (1s and 0s).  Each code represents text.  Using the iPads and an editable PDF, the students converted data to and from binary code.

5th Grade-Infection Fighters

In this activity student explored the body’s defenses and diagramed how the body fights invasion from germs. Students explored nonspecific defenses, defenses that are not targeted against a specific invader, such as the skin, cilia, and mucus in the nose and respiratory tract.  

STEAM Cycle 20

1/15/2017

 

Kindergarten & 1st Grade-STEAM Bins

Using the STEAM Bins and task cards, the students created structures using the materials found in the bins.  Each group of students had a bin that included materials like pipe cleaners, dominoes, Play-Doh, craft sticks, paper cards, base-ten blocks, tangrams, Unifix cubes, and Legos to explore and create.

2nd Grade & 3rd Grade-
​Listen & Follow Directions

The students were given a list of directions to create a drawing.  Directions were only repeated once, so students had to have their ears tuned to the teacher.  Once the drawing was complete, students wrote a story to match the drawing.

4th Grade-Input, Processing, Output 2

The students identified basic input and output devices in computer systems.  They worked with a team to identify similarities between a computer system and a human body (input, processing, and output) by watching a short video about the anatomy of a computer and participating in a game called Pass the Input.  The students recorded their observations in their STEAM journals.

5th Grade-Preventing the Spread

During our last STEAM cycle, the students learned how germs can be spread using a powder that only revealed itself using a black light.  In this cycle, students identified behaviors that promote good health and performed an investigation using a "glow germ" lotion.  They tested various ways of washing their hands to determine the most effective technique.

STEAM Cycle 19

1/10/2017

 
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We are pleased to announce implementation of Project Lead the Way curriculum in grades K-5 at Jamestown and Georgetown Elementary Schools.

"Project Lead the Way (PLTW) provides transformative learning experiences  . . . that create[s] an engaging, hands-on classroom environment and empower[s] students to develop in-demand knowledge and skills they need to thrive. Our pathways in computer science, engineering, and biomedical science engage students in hands-on activities, projects, and problems; empower them to solve real-world challenges; and inspire them to reimagine how they see themselves" (PLTW 2017).  
Mrs. Totten and I completed PLTW training last November and are super excited to share this awesome curriculum with the students!

Kindergarten-
Structure & Function: Human Body
​Activity 1-Zoom Into the Body 2

Students continued to explore structure and function as they applied previous knowledge of these terms to the human body.  They investigated major structures of the body and identified organs and body parts that perform different functions.  In their Launch Logs (a scientific journal for this unit), the students drew body parts that serve a specified function: a body part whose function helps us move, a body part whose function helps us communicate, and a body part whose function is to protect our soft insides.

1st Grade-
Light: Observing the Sun, Moon, & Stars
Activity 1-Patterns of the Sun

The challenge in working through this activity was our very cloudy Michigan winter!  Because we have been unable to observe the sun's movement across the sky in person, we watched a video from Mystery Science that presented a situation in which a person used the sun in the morning to navigate to a friend's house.  At the end of the play date, the students determined if they would continue to follow the sun again to return home or if they would need to walk away from the sun.  The students learned about sunrise, sunset, east, and west.

2nd Grade-
The Changing Earth
​Activity 1-All About Maps

We began our new unit about the changing Earth by exploring different types of maps.  The students took notes in their Launch Logs (a scientific journal) as we read a book about maps, created their own map including a legend, and answered conclusion questions to show their understanding.

3rd Grade
Variation of Traits
Activity 1-​Inventory of Traits 2

​The students learned about inherited traits and took a Google Form survey of their own traits.  After the class completed the survey, each student viewed the spreadsheet of responses and created a graph to show the variation in our class of a selected trait.  The graph was inserted into a Google Doc after the students wrote a question & prediction for the activity.
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4th Grade-
Input/Output: Computer Systems
Activity 1-​Input, Processing, Output

The students identified basic input and output devices in computer systems. With a team, students identified similarities between a computer system and a human body (input, processing, and output) by watching a short video about the anatomy of a computer and participating in a game called Pass the Input.  The students recorded their observations in their Launch Logs (a scientific journal).

5th Grade-
Infection Detection
Activity 1-​Germs, Germs Everywhere

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Because germs are not visible, we don't always consider how germs can be passed from one person to another.  Using a UV glow powder, the students played a version of Heads-Up 7-Up.  One student began spreading the "glow germ" to other classmates without their knowledge by shaking hands with them.  After the game was over, the students were told that a "glow germ" was spreading and the only way to detect it was with a UV flashlight.  Once the "infected" students were identified, we used a graphic organizer to determine Patient Zero (the student who began the spread). 

STEAM Cycle 18

1/4/2017

 

Kindergarten-Zoom Into the Body

Students continued to explore structure and function as they applied previous knowledge of these terms to the human body.  They investigated major structures of the body and identified organs and body parts that perform different functions.  Key terms covered: structure, function, identity, movement, protection, and communication.
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1st Grade-Design a Paintbrush

The students were introduced to and utilized the design process as they solved a problem presented by fictional characters Angelina, Suzi, and Mylo.  The students designed a paintbrush using straws, feathers, and pom poms.  After building the new paintbrush, students had the opportunity to paint with it and test their designs.

2nd Grade-Dear Santa 2

The students created a video letter using Photo Booth to tell Santa (or someone who may purchase a gift for them) what they want, need, would wear, would read, and a wish for someone else.  Completed videos were uploaded to Google Classroom.

3rd Grade-Inventory of Traits

We began a new unit about the variation of traits.  The students learned about inherited traits and took a Google Form survey of their own traits.  After the class completed the survey, each student viewed the spreadsheet of responses and created a graph to show the variation in our class of a selected trait.

4th Grade-Catch Up on Code

The students were given time to work through the stages and lessons in Code.org that were started in previous lessons.

5th Grade-Minecraft Hour of Code

Students made the connection between our Minecraft engineering unit and the coding learned in the last unit by working through Minecraft Hour of Code.  They also completed a Google Form survey about the Minecraft engineering experience.  They were overwhelmingly in favor of the Minecraft Animal Pen activity.

    Jamestown Elementary

    Welcome to the STEAM Studio Blog for Jamestown Upper & Lower Elementary Schools in Hudsonville, MI.  Here you will find the latest projects and concepts we've been working on in class.

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    Ms. Baker

    comes to Hudsonville with 17 years of teaching information and technology skills to elementary students.  After earning a BA in Elementary Education at the University of Northern Iowa and a Master’s degree from the University of Iowa in 2000, she drew a circle on the map and chose Southwest Michigan.

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