Think Tank!

Kindies continue to learn about collaboration and compromise through their center time. They will use the Osmo Tangram app again to develop spatial awareness and will also learn how to use the Osmo Pizza app. In addition, kindies will learn how to use our new Edison Robots that PTO purchased for us!! Thank you, PTO!!!

First Graders also continue to learn about collaboration and compromise through their center time. They will be using the Edison Robots and Osmo Tangrams independently in their stations. The focus when using the robots is on proper care/use and control when programming and controlling them.

Second Graders are having fun watching their plants grow in our new hydroponic growing systems and some staff members have enjoyed using some lettuce, kale, dill, cilantro and mint in their cooking at home!! We're anxiously waiting to see if the petunias grow well so they can be planted outside around our school! These students will also spend time this month learning about the VEX IQ Robotic pieces and will learn how to use them.

Third Graders will be doing activities this month inspired by March Madness. They will be working in small groups to use the Engineering Design Process to design and create a basketball shooter (catapult style) and hoop. They will then practice shooting and tracking how many "swishes" they get! Based on this data, improvements will be made to their designs to improve their number of "swishes!"

Fourth Graders will either be finishing their Slickbot using VEX IQ Robotics or will move on to building a "Scrappy Circuit" using common materials (cardboard, aluminum foil, paperclips etc). This circuit will light up a small LED light and we'll connect this learning to our lessons from the Fall on Informational Technologies. A push switch will light the LED light and we'll practice Morse Code messages using light instead of sound!

Fifth Graders are starting their second round of electives this month!! If they chose Think Tank, they will be learning how to sew and will make 9 square mini-quilt projects. They can also make coasters and soup cozies for the microwave. It's always so fun to see how excited the students are with the projects they make!!

If Sixth Graders are in the Think Tank Elective this month, they will be using the VEX Robotic Kits to make a Clawbot Robot. Students will then use their robot in various challenges including a maze where the sides cannot be touched, Bag Grannies Groceries (Clawbots must pick up 3 grocery items in the playfield, place them in a box and deliver them to "Granny") and a Battle Bot competition. Go Bots!!

If you're interested in donating any items to our classroom, we could put the following items to good use!!

• Clean tomato paste lids
• Plastic lids from plastic jugs (EX.-milk jug lids)
• Colorful duct tape
• Scotch brand masking tape
• Colorful pipe cleaners
• Straws

Thank you so vey much to those who have donated to the Think Tank!!!