STEAM

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Oh, Mold!

Fungus has been WAY more interesting than we ever anticipated.  We started with the question, “Where do leaves go after they fall?” which led to all sorts of mushroomy, fungusy, moldy inquiries.

 

We wondered what might cause things to mold more slowly or more quickly.  Each team used exactly the same foods on their plate but changed one variable they were curious about.  What if the food is warm, in the refrigerator, covered with salt, covered with baking soda, coughed on, or . . . . ?  We did nothing to one plate so we could compare.  Don’t worry, we double-sealed our plates so no putridness would escape into our room.

We observed our plates every day for ten days.  It was disgusting in the best sort of way!  While we observed, we investigated books, websites, our yards, our kitchens, and the forest for more fungus information to add to our Mold Museum.

This was one of our favorite research books.

What a fabulous investigation this has been so far!

 

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MakerSpace Ready to Roll!

Anticipation!  We can hardly wait for our wonderful MVCS students to walk in the door this week, and one of the delightful surprises ahead is experiencing the updated MakerSpace room.  Thanks to a slew of helpers/donors/carriers/painters/sewers/organizers, we have an inspiring collection of recyclables  and other supplies all ready for creating.  Don’t you wonder what will happen in this room next?  Stay tuned!

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Introducing Osmo!

 

Teachers love learning and growing too.  Each year we participate in various professional development as we reach toward our own goals.  Last year at the Christa McAuliffe conference, Mrs. Fogg got to train in Osmo.  Osmo enables the iPad to merge the power of physical play with the digital advantages of real-time feedback.  It seeks to promote the four C’s of the 21st century–collaboration, communication, creativity, and critical thinking.

Today in math stations, we worked on coding skills for the first time this year, which included an opportunity to try one of Osmo’s coding games, Coding Awbie.  This game introduces some of the logic skills and problem solving in coding.