MakerSpaces!

This week our class went to the Learning Commons (formerly known as the library) to explore some of the tasks available in the MakerSpaces there.  It was a great way to get some engaging, hands-on learning during a week when everyone is filled with a great deal of excitement!  Take a look below at all of the different activities we tried!

These students are using the Ozobot robots which have sensors that read and respond to the colors on the surface of an iPad or a sheet of paper.  First students made a simple path for the Ozobot to follow.  Then they tried to use the colors to send directions for the robots to follow such as go slow, go fast, turbo, etc.

 

Students also used the Dash robots on the floor and controlled them by making a path on the iPads to tell the robots to go around an obstacle or turn corners.

We also got to use the new Osmo devices that can "see" what you put on the table in front of them.  Students used letter cards to play a spelling game with a partner (or on their own).  The cards are color-coded so the device knows which player made the play and gives them their points!

Not everything there was about electronics though!  Students used the Legos to try to build the rainbow robot like the model.  It was a challenge with just a short time to work!

Our last activity was the maze wall which has large magnetic pieces that can be used to create a maze for the wooden balls to roll down.  Students worked together to make a maze with at least 3 layers.

Everyone had a good time learning with new materials about sequence and cause and effect!  The students got to experiment and "fail" and try again in a fun way.  I know they will be excited to go back and work again soon.

Project Linus

Every year Cannon students participate in a service project to help others.  This always falls during the holiday season and is a good reminder that it isn't all about the presents we get!  It also ties in with our study of financial literacy.  We have learned that one thing many people do with some of their money is give to charities to help others.  This project reminds us that it isn't only our money we can give!  Students this year worked as a class to make fleece blankets. These blankets will be donated to Project Linus, which is an organization that donates handmade blankets to children who are in need, are sick, or have been through an emergency of some kind.  We did a non-sewing blanket and students did a great job pulling the fringe through.  It would make a great holiday project for families to do as well, either to donate or to make as gifts for friends and family!  You can find the directions for the version we made here.  Here are some pictures of the class at work and showing off our final product!

November Special Events

The last week before our Thanksgiving week off was a busy one at Cannon!  First on Thursday we had our Family Engineering Night.  We had already constructed rafts in class and investigated sails and tested materials.  On the big night students brought their plans and their families and constructed the sails they had designed.  The materials workstations in the hall were packed with busy builders!

Students eagerly attached their sails to their rafts.  Then it was off to the science lab to test their work.  We had "rivers" and "wind" ready (rain gutters and fans, actually) and students faced off with another designer to see whose raft sailed all the way to the end fastest.  Students were highly motivated to go back and improve their sails for as long as time, materials, and energy held out!

The next morning we held our first Heritage Day at Cannon and invited grandparents to join us in class.  First we talked a little about how times have changed since the grandparents were in school.  (Remember chalk, filmstrips, film projectors, typewriters, and messages that had to be carried to the office by hand?)  Next we spent a little time showing off our increasing reading skills to all our visitors.

And then students and grandparents participated in a design challenge to build the tallest structure out of only toothpicks and cranberries!  You can see some serious design faces hard at work here...

  Kassidy's group had a skyscraper of a tower!!

After that the grandparents went off with their grandkids to visit the technology display and the book fair while the rest of us cleaned up and got ready for the rest of our day.  

It was great to have all of our families at these events - both the engineers building sails and the grandparents spending time with us during the day.  I hope you enjoyed your visits as much as we did!