What is technology?

Today we started our first big engineering unit of the year by talking about exactly what an engineer is (hint:  they don't just drive trains!) and what technology is.  We learned that engineers use science, math, and creativity to design solutions to problems and to improve things so they work better.  Then we looked at some examples of technology I brought from my house and they worked with a partner to decide what problem this technology solves and what materials it is made of.  Here are some hard-working scholars with their technology.

Reading and Retelling

Today we practiced retelling a story by putting some of the pictures in order and then using them to help get details from the story in order.  We used a Frog and Toad story called "Cookies" since the first song the choir is learning this year is from the Frog and Toad musical.  Here are the kids working with their partners.

Magnets!

Today students used magnets to move a paper rabbit and squirrel along a path they had designed.  Many partners first tried blowing the papers, since the challenge was to move them along the path without touching the paper, but it turned out to be hard to get them to move just right...  Then some students realized that we had been working with magnets earlier in the week and since we had used a paper clip to hold the parts together that might work!  Students learned that they could pull the paper clip with the magnet and also that a magnet could push or pull another magnet.  Here they are demonstrating their magnetic force!

Building in the Engineering Lab!

We tried various building sets and activities in the lab today!