Hands-on STEM projects excite Lower School students
During the first semester of the 2018-2019 school year, Mrs. LoRusso’s Lower School STEM classes have been learning through all sorts of fun activities.
7th grade finished their first Vex robot. This was a free build so they could design whatever they wanted. Collaboration and learning the names of the pieces were their main focus for this assignment. They were very creative!
6th grade engineering students finished their unit on measurement by creating skimmers. Students had to make sure that they measured accurately and built according to directions for their skimmer to fly the farthest.
5th grade is working on designing parachutes that will work on other planets. Here are some pictures of their rocket and parachute designs.
In Technology Class, 4th grade started working with Alice, a program designed to get students excited about computer programming. Their first project needed to include the following elements:
-Add in objects
-Basic programming
-A Do Together
-A Do In Order
-Change the Duration of when an object completes an action
-Change the Style in which an object completes an action
The 3rd grade engineering class is having a lot of fun learning about circuits for their Designing an Alarm System unit. Students drew schematic diagrams and practiced putting together alligator leads, light bulbs, sirens, switches, and batteries. Now they are trying to figure out how to create a switch that only turns on when the water trough is empty.
2nd grade started their Designing a Wall engineering unit. They went on a wall walk to find different types of walls all around them. They discussed what type of walls they were and what materials were used when building the wall.
The 1st grade technology class is learning how to use Chromebooks properly. Students are having lots of fun learning how to log in, finding the correct keys, plugging in headphones, and navigating to different websites. Students are also encouraged to hold a Chromebook the correct way, not touch the screen, and sit up straight while using two hands when typing.
