{Things that Go Bump in the Night}

October was such a fun month in Launch! We met our third Scientist of the Month and discovered she worked with some pretty spooky science concepts.

Like always, we began with her words:

"I was taught that the way of progress was neither swift or easy." ~Marie Curie

Curie teaches us that we have to work towards reaching our goals and that it is not an easy journey.

We were so impressed to learn that Curie was the first woman to receive the Nobel Prize and she is the only person to receive to Nobel Prizes in two different areas of science!

Our next learning took place in the Bat Cave! Students had to enter silently and follow the flashlight path to their seats.

 

In week one, kindergarten and first grade read and watched about bats and made a swooping bat. 

They learned about bones in week two and investigated vertebrates and invertebrates.

And explored the world of owls in the third week. We learned that owls cannot move their eyes. We made owl viewers so that we could see the world like owls do.

Second grade made straw rocket bats and third grade completed a hanging bat challenge in week one.

In week two, second and third grade both did the Skeleton Zip Line Challenge.

 

Week three found our second and third graders virtually dissecting owl pellets! 

You can check it out here: http://kidwings.com/virtual-pellet/

In week one, fourth and fifth graders made bat gliders (I didn't get a single picture!!)

In week two, they practiced reverse design. I showed them a photograph of the final product and asked them to figure out how to make it. It was pretty challenging!

Fourth and fifth grade also received their first STEM Career talk form Martin Stancil, an Orthopedic Physician's Assistant.

{Construction Junction}

Bridges and skyscrapers-- such marvelous engineering designs! 

And they just happened to be the topic of Unit 6. 

Kindergarten and first grade learned all about bridges and constructed their own out of cubes and craft sticks or Legos. Their bridges had to cross the river without touching it. They then recorded their designs in their STEM Journals. 

The next week they learned about skyscrapers and constructed their own out of Legos, plastic cups, or straws and connectors. Some of their skyscrapers were even taller than Mrs. Hilley! 

They sketched their skyscraper designs in their STEM Journals too.

And or course, we had to read Iggy Peck Architect. 

Click on the image to hear Mrs. HIlley read the book!

 As always, there are more pictures on the Kindergarten and First Grade Page!

Second and third grades also built bridges and skyscrapers, but they used toothpicks and playdough, index cards, or Keva Planks. They documented their work through the Engineering Design Process in their STEM Journals.

 

 These guys built the tallest Keva Plank skyscraper in the whole school! It totaled 75.5 inches!!!

The Second and Third Grade Pages have more pictures!

Fourth and fifth grades built their bridges and skyscrapers out of spaghetti noodles and playdough, white paper and masking tape, straws and masking tape, and Keva Planks. 

The fourth and fifth grade record holders at 62 in., 65.5 in., and 71.5 in.:

They were challenged to build a skyscraper taller than Mrs. Hilley out of white paper and masking tape. Only two were successful, but unfortunately one didn't make it to have it's picture made. 

Check out the Fourth and Fifth Grade Pages for more pictures!