Exercise Challenge aka War!

With it being rainy and the indoor space being used for book fair, our PE teacher improvised and came up with an exercise battle using the card game "War". Our class combined with the PK/K class and taught the littles how to play!

This game allows students to practice honesty, fairness, honorable sporting behavior, and fitness skills. Exercise Battle is an energetic and exciting game, requiring a little strategy and a lot of luck. 

"3-2-1, FLIP!"

Passing out a new set of cards

"Let's flip our top card! What did you get?"

7 Wins! 14 Curl Ups

J Wins! Skip in place for 35 Roadrunners

"Which card wins? We have two aces!"

Passing out a new set of cards.

Our class sure loves mentoring our littlest students!

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!

Engineering Ramps

Young students benefit from learning engineering skills because it allows students to critically think about the process to build something. The question posed was "Can you build a ramp to move objects from the top to the bottom?" Students used the design process of building, improving, and revising.  

A very intricate designed ramp.

Simple ramp

Tall ramp 

"What if I put my hand in front of the object?"

It is amazing how many different ramp designs can get the same result!

Mentoring: Flying Flyers

 Today our class did a fantastic job being mentors! They guided our littlest kids in creating circles with paper and taping them to a straw. It was fun to see everyone work together to complete this task.

"How should we make the circle?"

"Let's use a small amount of tape!"

"Can you help make my circle?"

"Wow! You are doing a great job."

"Hey, look! I have my straw!"

Teamwork

"Hey, can you help me tape my circle?"

 Test runs of the flying flyers:

"3, 2, 1, fly!"

"In learning you will teach, and in teaching you will learn" -Phil Collins