How Do You Lift a Lion?

After reading, How Do You Lift a Lion? by Robert E. Wells students were given a challenge to make a pulley to lift a "lion". The mission was to lift a lion at least three feet off the ground using only the following items.

• craft sticks
• tape
• string
• scissors
• pulley
• "lion" this could be anything you can lift

Questions to consider:

What is the load you are lifting?

What force is working against you?

What will you use for a platform?

How will you keep the "lion" on it?

What will do the work for you?

Creating and Testing 

Using a rock as a "lion"

Box design

"It works!"

"Look at my lion move!"

"Wait...is a pulley like a wheel and axle?"

Think like an Engineer!

Jessi from Sci Show Kids has a problem. Her back is really itchy and she can't reach it. Can you build a back scratcher to help her out? Your supplies are: ruler, pipe cleaner, plastic fork, tape, pencil, two stir sticks, and tacky putty. 

Students first drew a design of how they were going to engineer their back scratcher then made their pictures come to life with the supplies they were given. 

After the first attempt, most students noticed that they needed to try again because their first prototype either didn't work right or needed some adjusting.

The first attempt:

It works!

Class Back Scratchers!

Students learned that: 

• "Engineers start with a problem that needs to be solved." Student A
• "That you can build anything that you want to as long as you put your mind to it." Student A
• "That it doesn't always work on the first try. If it doesn't just improvise!" Student L

First day of School: Take 2!

It is so great to have some of the class “in person” at school! Both students on campus and those doing distance learning started off the day by creating an avatar of themselves to be used for comics and our virtual class picture. Students used the website pixton.com to create an avatar that had features that resembled themselves. 

Students changing the features of their avatars.

Getting all signed in!

"What style of hair should I have?"

"I'm using features that I wish I had!"

Choosing a background for the comic.

"How's my comic looking?"

We enjoyed "normal" school activities like recess, snack, and lunch! Students loved recess and getting to be with their friends!

Hula Hooping!

Enjoying a mask break and snack.

Just playing at recess.

The Minovators!

There is no such thing as a math person

ANYONE can be good at math! And MISTAKES actually help your brain grow!

Has your child told you that yet? Hopefully this has come up, as we spent the first few weeks of school learning all about how having a growth mindset in math is key to success in this subject area.

We watched (and then discussed) a series of videos created by Dr. Jo Boaler, professor of mathematical education at Stanford University, which translates Stanford Pyschologist Carol Dweck's theories of growth vs. fixed mindset into math practices. These practices are designed to promote a growth mindset in math and banish math anxiety. They also work to bust some age-old myths about math like: you have to be fast at math to be good at it; and math is a boring subject all about rote memorization which does not require any creativity. At Seabury, we know differently!

We have learned how the STRUGGLE to understand difficult math concepts, which can sometimes feel overwhelming and frustrating, is just a part of exercising your brain to "build your brain muscle." Students who look at that struggle as an exciting challenge, and persevere in trying to solve problems in different ways, demonstrate much higher levels of achievement in math than students who have memorized algorithms or processes without fully understanding what they are doing with the numbers. This idea of struggle being a GOOD thing is an important concept for gifted perfectionists, who often are not used to being challenged in their areas of strength, and often give up rather than take on a challenge they might not soar through.

Welcome to my Virtual Classroom!

 

Hello! My name is Mrs. Meads and this is my fourth year teaching at Seabury School. You may have noticed the minions - yes I am known as the teacher who loves minions (you should see the collection in the classroom). I am excited for an outstanding year!

STEM Barrel Challenge

This STEM challenge was to design and build a barrel with clothespins, an empty toilet paper roll, 2 rubber  bands, cardboard scraps, yarn, and a pair of scissors, that will hold water the longest period of time without leaking. While they ultimately all leaked, the craftsmanship and level of group-effort was priceless and beautiful. A majority of the children would like to revisit the challenge and tweak their barrels with what they have learned from the coopers.

Wagon Challenge

Engineering Challenge!

We had our first STEM engineering activity on Thursday for Westward Ho! The task was to create an emigrant covered wagon out of a shoebox and MakerSpace supplies. The goal was to make it sturdy enough to carry a heavy load. The three downstairs rooms were all abuzz with the sound of eager, engaged, determined students. Each of the eight groups of first through fourth graders came up with a unique, well thought out plan. We used water bottles as weights and some of the wagons could hold all nine bottles! Watch for a blog that features our collaborative groups of engineers with their designs.