STEM Rec Challenges

September 25 - 29

Science

Students will learn about the force of buoyancy. We’ll experiment with techniques to maximize buoyancy by making clay boats.

Standard: Students will understand the relationship between the force applied to an object and resulting motion of the object.

Math

Students will practice their basic math skills with a math game. Each students will receive a certain number of cards and from their cards will pick one number as the “goal number”. They must then use addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division to the reach the goal number they have chosen.

Literacy

This week in literacy we are looking to recruit any kids who are brave and willing to go on a magical quest. We have three different tasks students will need to complete before receiving their wands and becoming powerful Spell Masters.

Objective: To help students see the different ways they can practice spelling

Social Studies

The road home from the Trojan War was long and hard.  Odysseus and his men met up with numerous challenges-one of which was the cyclops Polyphemus.  Captured by the giant, they sat alongside his sheep, stuck inside Polyphemus's cave.  Are they clever enough to get out before they become dinner?  Are you?  See how you would rank among these Spartan warriors, this week in Social Studies!

Art

Students will be introduced to weaving as an art form. They will have the opportunity to look at Navajo blankets and how they were woven. Students will then weave friendship bracelets. This week art will also be starting a collaborative project, it will be weaving a large rug that will be donated when we are done making it. Come by art and explore weaving.

Tech / Engineering

Snap Circuit certification continues until October 13. We are offering three levels of certification in Snap Circuits this block. Students begin with the Standard Certification, where they will be guided through lessons 1 - 100 with the Station Master. This is a week long challenge which students sign up for and attend daily. Once a student has completed the standard certification and are competent in using Snap Circuits, they are qualified to work independently to continue learning. There are two additional levels of certification available - Expert Certification (completing lessons 101 - 200) and Master Certification (completing lessons 201 - 300)

Makerspace Now Open

We are excited to announce that the Makerspace is now open in STEM Rec. The introduction of the Makerspace included a discussion of the Engineering Design Process.

Ask - What is the problem? 

Imagine - What are the possibilities? What is the best solution?

Plan - Is the plan possible? Where should I start? What materials are needed?

Create - Can a model be made? Does it meet the goal?

Improve - Does it work? What will make it better?

Communicate - Are changes needed? What do others think? Is the problem solved?

Students were then challenged to design and build a boat that could float for one minute using the materials available. Students had a great time and learned a lot!

Welcome to Music at Franklin Discovery!

My name is Micki Allred. I am the new elementary music teacher this year at Franklin Discovery! I graduated from the University of Utah in 2001 with a Masters Degree in Music.  I then went on teach Music in the Duchesne County School District for 12 years. I am excited to be at Franklin Discovery and have the opportunity to share my love for music.

The Music courses I offer this year at Franklin Discovery will be sequential, comprehensive, and sustained as defined in the State and National Core Arts Standards for Music Education.

Here are a list of the classes I will be teaching during the first block.

Music at the Core (1^st and 2^nd grade)  - Students will experience music through movement, singing, listening, creating, and playing instruments.  This class will also follow the State and National Core guidelines for Elementary Music.

Group Piano - Students will learn how to read and play music on the piano. This class will incorporate the middle C position method along with intervallic reading. Individual practice time is a part of group piano that will require headphones.  I have headphones available that will be sanitized after each use, but if you’d like to have your own headsets please label them and they will be placed in the student practice folders.  The Dollar Tree has headsets available for $1.00.

Note Star - Students will learn to read basic notation and also gain an appreciation of music by learning about it through different cultures, genres, and instruments.

Music Prodigy - Students will learn how to play the Xylophone, Ukulele, Piano, and various Percussion instruments. Students will also gain an appreciation for music through movement, singing, listening, and an in depth look at worldwide musical cultures.

The study of music has been shown to have lasting benefits on students’ cognitive, psychomotor, and affective development. The following link shows the benefits of a musical education.

So far, I have enjoyed playing instruments, singing, and making music with our Franklin Discovery students.

I look forward to a great school year!

x

Rollercoasters, Robots, and Space!

The first full block of the school year is turning out to be very busy!  Thank you to everyone who has donated supplies and recyclables.

This block several third through sixth grade students are participating in a unit called Roller Coaster Science.  The classes are divided into small groups and every week or so each group receives a new challenge.  The students are finishing up their first challenges this week, so check back to see pictures and data the students have collected.

In addition to Roller Coaster Science, students are also working through the NASA BEST program in a class called Star Wars Space Science.  This class is available for all first through sixth graders.  We are exploring the world of Star Wars while also exploring NASA's current space program.  There are 10 challenges the classes can work through.  This week students are creating on and testing a satellite. First and second grade students are working on their math, problem-solving, and teamwork skills by deciding how many solar cells they would need to power their satellites.  Third through sixth grade students are exploring mass, math, and problem-solving skills.  Once construction is complete, students will test (drop) their satellites to test the durability.

This block also starts our FIRST Lego League team practices.  I am still looking for another coach for the teams, so if you or anyone you know may be interested, we meet every Monday and Wednesday and every other Friday 2:30-3:15 PM.  The teams have been examining the FIRST Core Values.  They have also begun planning their research projects.  This week we will start exploring the programming our robots.  Also, first through third grade students will have the opportunity to begin exploring the WeDo 2.0 robots provided through a Donors Choose project funded last month.  We begin exploration today and I am very excited to see the students grow through this program.

Thank you all for your support!  Check back often for pictures and updates!

STEM Rec Challenges

September 18 - 22

Science

Continuing with our water theme, students will learn why water and oil don’t mix. We’ll talk about what hydrophobicity means and demonstrate that water won't cross a hydrophobic barrier.

Standard:  Matter is made up of atoms and molecules.

Math

Math will offer a  challenge called “Zombie Escape”.  Students must answer math questions correctly within a limited amount of time and complete a fitness challenge before the ‘zombie’ gets them.  If students answer incorrectly, a new question will be given and must be solved or the ‘zombie’ wins.  The goal is to complete enough challenges to escape the room.

Wellness

Calories Count!  Students will be outside performing activities that teach students about calories by getting them moving.

Social Studies

The Minotaur was said to be housed in the ultimate maze-The Labyrinth.  Can Theseus defeat the minotaur and navigate the Labyrinth (aka the play structure), or will he fall short, like so many before him?  Find out this week in Social Studies!

Art

We had a blast this last week learning about Pop Art!  This week is even more fun as students will be designing their own stamps as they learn more about print making.

Tech / Engineering

We are excited to introduce the makerspace to our students!  Students will be introduced to the design cycle as we pose the question, which materials in the makerspace could be used to make a boat that will float for one minute?  Are there materials that wouldn't normally float that could be altered to help it float?  Students will use the design process to create a boat and test it outside in a pool.

Standard:  Observe using senses, create a hypothesis, and focus a question that can lead to an investigation.

Wellness

WELLNESS 101

Welcome to the new school year!! Below is a short outline of what's going on the first term in Wellness (aka Physical Education or Physical Wellness).  There is a reason I chose PE and wellness over english and social studies… Forgive the straightforward and ‘small word’ format of these class descriptions.  I know that it doesn't sound all that intelligent, but after 7 years in the military, over 7 years of competitive collegiate athletics, and being the father of 5 children, ​I ​learned this one very powerful and important concept… KEEP IT SIMPLE!!

All classes will begin with a small workout (workout will ​include but not limited to different variations of exercises = crunches, arm circles, push ups, burpees, jumping jacks, etc.).All classes will include topic discussion on a personal self-care topics (ex. Honesty, Respect, Integrity, Responsibility, etc.)

Please ensure ​students come to their Wellness Class appropriately outfitted with​tennis shoes, socks​ ​and shirts ready for running, stretching, and other various activities.​ Dresses should have shorts or leggings worn underneath as well.

“LOCO” Motion

1-2 grades

Class Focus: Locomotion occurs when a body changes its position from one place to another.
Class Activities: Races, Jumping, Running, Hopping, Yoga, fun games, etc. 

Field Games

3-6 grades

Class Focus: Educational course related to maintaining the human body through physical exercises
Class Activities: Races, frisbee, sports, parachute, team building activities, etc.

BIG 5 (Seasonal Athletics)

3-6 grades

Class Focus: Educational course related to the five most successful and supported seasonal sports.
Class Activities: Football, Basketball, Volleyball, Soccer, etc.

Math/Engineering Class Updates

This block of math and engineering classes is going to be full of creating and discovering!

1/2 Grade: Math in Outer Space

We've introduced the solar system this week, and I'm excited to help the kids expand their number sense through modeling and some fun space games!

This block will focus on learning both about space and expanding number sense and fluency in addition and subtraction. We might even throw in some Star Wars problems to keep it fun! In addition, we'll learn some of the engineering principles behind rockets and space travel. 

3/4 Grade: Theme Park Creation

Have you ever wanted to make your own Disneyland, Lagoon, or Six Flags? There are a lot of mathematical, engineering, and business decisions that need to be made! The kids will apply concepts of multiplication and division in the context of economics, as well as model some of their own creations. 

So far, the kids have been coming up with concepts for their parks, and there have been some very creative ideas!! In the coming weeks, we will begin to figure out the total costs of their parks so they can know how much to charge and how many guests they'll need to attract.

5/6 Grade: Donut Shop Creation

Budgeting! Area! Ratios! Supply and demand! Marketing! These are only some of the topics that will be hit while our students design their very own shops. While the class is called "Donut Shop Creation", kids have some liberty as to exactly what they'll want to sell. In the next couple of weeks, we'll work on figuring out the cost of making a day's supply of goods, electricity, rent, and then making inventories and decisions based on our observations. 

Students will also engage in engineering projects throughout the semester to increase the efficiency of aspects of their shops. It should be sweet!

All of your kids are so much fun! I am excited for the school year, and to show them the usefulness and beauty of mathematics!

Mrs. Nash

Math and Engineering Master Teacher