Fairy Tale Day, Skype Drawings and Dr. Seuss Day

February's ISTE Standard is Innovative Designer.  Our focus continues to be on tools that foster critical thinking to create a process for testing theories and solving problems!   Design Challenges are engaging ways for students to problem solve, collaborate, persevere, and can be great Buddy Class activities, too.

STEM Challenge #1 - Fairy Tale Day is Feb. 26

As you know, there are MANY versions of the "Three Little Pigs" fairy tale out there!  This week study point-of-view, or compare/contrast 2 or 3 of your favorites and have students complete a fairy tale engineering challenge to accompany the story.  Can your team design and build a house that the big, bad wolf cannot blow down?  Click here for editable lesson plan! For added excitement, bring in a shop vac to blow the houses down when testing!

Here are a few recommended titles to compare/contrast and please see your librarian for other recommendations! 

True Story of the 3 Little Pigs- by John Scieszka, Click here to watch the video on EPIC!
The Three Little Wolves and the Big Bad Pig by Eugene Trivizas
The Three Little Javelinas by Susan Lowell

*Pennridge Librarians' top picks:

The Three Little Aliens and the Big Bad Robot by Margaret McNamara
Tell the Truth, B.B. Wolf by Judy Sierra
The Three Ninja Pigs by Corey Rosen Schwartz
The Three Little Pigs and the Somewhat Bad Wolf by Mark Teague

2. Directed Drawing with Skype 

During the month of March, we would love to Skype with your students and help them draw something unique for the month of March. We will show them where we are located (this could vary), and explain to them how Skype can allow us to communicate all over the world!  If you're new to Skype, this is a stress-free and easy opportunity to practice.  All your students will need is a blank piece of paper and a pencil!  

Drawings can include a leprechaun, Lorax (pictured on right), or frog!

3. STEM Challenge #2 - Dr. Seuss Day

Read Across America is held annually on March 2nd and encourages children in every community to read and also encourages parents and teachers to celebrate the joy of reading. It’s a holiday that has been celebrated since 1998 and falls on the same day as children’s book author Dr. Seuss.  We suggest reading one of your favorites and completing a challenge similar to those listed below:

Ten Apples Up on Top- Paper Tower OR Edible Structure

Using recycled paper students will create the tallest possible structure in 5 minutes.  After a few minutes, discuss how rolling or folding the paper might help.  Optional- have students add a certain amount of weight to their structure.
OR
Using marshmallows, spaghetti, gumdrops, etc, students will create the tallest possible structure.

Oh the Places You'll Go-  Ball Bridge 

Materials- recycled papers, 10 mailing labels, 2 cups, 4 pipe cleaners, 8 straws, and a ping pong ball
Procedure:  Place 2 chairs 14 inches apart.  Using the materials given, teams must build a bridge between the chairs that transport the ping pong ball from one side to the other.

Green Eggs and Ham ("In a boat or with a goat?")-  Buoyancy Boats

Materials- 12 x 12 inch foil square, coins or small pebbles
Procedure- Teams will work together to form the foil into a boat and see how many coins or pebbles it can hold while floating on water.  Students can record and reflect on which designs hold the most weight.

Save the Date -  21st Century Learning Night!

21st CLN is 5 years old and will take place on May 28th and we are looking forward to a great evening.  This year's theme will be "Before, During, and After the Screen," as we look to showcase all the elements that build up-to and stem from student learning with technology.  Look for a formal sign-up announcement coming soon!