Stack'em Up: An Introduction to Engineering

In today's teamwork challenge, students were introduced to engineering by working in teams of 3-4 to solve a problem WITHOUT talking. Each group created a tool using string and a rubber band that was used to stack a group of cups into a pyramid. 

Team members must work cooperatively to: 

• Pull their strings to expand the rubber band 

• Lower the rubber band around a cup 

• Release the string so that the rubber band grabs the cup 

• Pick up the cup to stack it

Through some frustration, hard work, and dedication the challenge can be completed!

This was the group to complete the challenge first. Way to go!


In the end, students learned that teamwork makes tasks easier when you all pull together, it increases perseverance, and builds cooperation along with communication skills.

What an great way to start the new year!

Saving Fred!

Saving Fred is a creative problem-solving activity using a gummy worm, life saver, a cup, and some paperclips. 

The Story: Fred has been spending his summer boating on the Great Lakes. But he’s not too bright (after all, the brains of worms are pretty small). He’s never learned how to swim and he never wears his life preserver. The worst has happened! His boat has capsized and he’s stuck! Fortunately, his life preserver is in the boat, but unfortunately he does not know how to reach it without falling off and drowning. Source

Problem: How can you and your partner save Fred using only 2 paper clips? You may not touch Fred, the boat, or the life preserver directly with your hands! 

The Rules: 

• Fred may not fall into the sea (table) more than one time. If he does, he drowns.
• You may not injure Fred in any way - Poor Fred.
• You may use only 2 paper clips to move Fred, the boat, and the life preserver. You may not touch anything except the paper clips.

We paired up with students from the 5th grade class to test our life-saving skills.

 The great news was that we came up with loads of different methods to save Fred.

 Remarkably, some of the groups came up with a process within minutes. 

The goal was to use teamwork and cooperation to figure out how to save Fred. Everyone was able to find at least two ways to save him which means, lots of Fred's got to carrying on with their boating excursions. 

Sudoku

During mentoring, our class helped younger students play Sudoku. These game boards involved pictures and numbers, some were "easy" and some were "difficult". 

Research shows that Sudoku improves memory, stimulates the brain, helps to train your brain to do work quickly, and increases your concentration power.

You got it! Nice job friends!

This is a hard one. Way to go!

Wow these are challenging!

Auction Project: Abstract Paint Pouring

Our class contacted local artist Darlene LeMaster after seeing her art on display at the Norpoint Center during swimming lessons. LeMaster uses an art technique called acrylic paint pouring and helped the students create marble-effect pieces that are then coated with a high gloss resin to create colorful and stunning abstract designs.  Individual coaster sets were for sale, at our annual school auction, in the silent auction as well as this large canvas the class made

together.  

Large canvas

Example of the coaster sets

Alien Invasion!

Students chose a planet or dwarf planet to research and then designed an alien that would thrive on that planet. Things that were taken into consideration were mass, atmosphere, gravity, temperature, and elements available to survive. 

Infinity Tales lives on Mars-Adalyn

Solar, Moony and Cermy live on Neptune-Catherine

Mr. Snowy lives on Neptune-Colin

Ignitas Talunes live on Venus-Enzo

Zorg lives on Jupiter-Ishaan

Blob thingy lives on the dwarf planet Eris-Miki

Fluff lives on Mercury -Poppy

Jeff lives on Mars and has TNT to blow up things-Ryver

The Diamond Dragon lives on Saturn-Sydney

Tapper lives on Jupiter-Trevin

Leo lives on Venus-Tristan

Jeffy lives on Mars-Zimraan

Science Fair

At Seabury School science fair is the place to be! 

We love it!

It's an amazing opportunity for our students to show off all of their amazing learning, presentation skills, and vibrant personalities. We get to see them at their very best.

Each year, students prepare for the science fair by making a plan to have have a project with an experiment that provides results.

Students have learned how important it is to start with a question and to make a prediction or hypothesis and a PLAN before starting work on their experiment.

Catherine found out which food coloring looks the most vibrant in different liquids!

Enzo did a simulation about Stardust

The 5 second rule! Gross!

Will objects float or sink?

Ryver discovered how to grow crystals!

Trevin figured out which type of sugar people like better.

What do our lungs look like if we have been a smoker?

Our class pet: Nova!

Nova is a new addition to our classroom! She is a Robo Dwarf Hamster. They are the smallest breed of Dwarf Hamster. They are known to be very fast and love to run! Some say that they run about four human marathons at night.

There are so many benefits to having a class pet:

~Having to take care of a pet builds a sense of responsibility in children

~Children can develop empathy by caring for a pet, including an increased awareness of the needs and feelings of others (pets in the classroom)

She is well loved by our class and has new furniture thanks to Genius Hour in the Makerspace on Fridays!!