Electricity

We use electricity every day, but what do we really know and understand about it? To start us off on our explorations into electricity, electronics and creating with electronics, we will do some background research. Here's a great website to get us started:

Explain That Stuff: Electricity 

Salt, Ice and Water

Why is salt put on roads and sidewalks in the winter? Could something else be used instead? The Grade 1/2 class did some experiments to see what common kitchen ingredients melted ice the best. Winners: salt, baking soda, sugar. Losers: flour, cocoa, corn startch. 

The next time we meet we will finish our experiments on salt water and density.  

Sokoban Game for Caribou Math Contest

The next Caribout Math Contest is coming up quickly, and this time the interactive math game will be Sokoban. This game was originally invited in Japan in 1980, and the word "sokoban" means "warehouse keeper" in Japanese. The object of the game is to push large boxes to designated spots in the warehouse. Boxes can only be pushed, not pulled, and they are so heavy only one can be pushed at a time. Boxes are so big they cannot be climbed over. This has some consequences during game play, such as if a box if ever pushed into a corner, there is no way to get it out again.

The first level of the game presented for practice on the Caribou website is quite tricky for beginners, so here are some other recommended resources:

• Sokoban Online Start with the first lesson that can be found here. This site asks you to create an account, but it is not necessary. 
• Sokoban by Jordi Domenech There are a few choices of collections of puzzles here too. Start with Level 1.

Sokoban will get easier with practice! Keep these tips in mind:

• If you are stuck and frustrated, take a short break and come back. 
• Every Sokoban game has a "Restart" button. Don't be afraid to use it! Often it is not possible to solve a level without some trial and error. 
• Once you've completed a challenging level, go back and try it again to see if you can still remember the solution. 

Have fun!

Scratch - Virtual Pets

The students in Mme Brinda's class have been doing wonderful work creating their own virtual pets in Scratch. Lots of creativity and applying the use of advanced Scratch concepts like broadcasting messages between Sprites. 

Programming in Scratch

With the Rube Goldberg Fair behind us, we have started a new focus on computer programming using Scratch. Grade 1-2 students made programs to make Sorites dance, Grade 3-4 students have been making animations of the letters of their names and Grade 5-6 students have created a Pong Game. Great work by all!

Rube Goldberg Machines - Nearly finished!

This week, students have been very busy, putting the final touches on their Rube Goldberg Machines. Great work! Now, most teams are turning their attention to adding Hallowe'en themed decorations.

Pinhey Sand Dunes - Visit Two

We returned to the Pinhey Sand Dunes to participate in restoration of the dunes. Lots of help is needed to remove debris and organic matter from the sand. We did lots of sifting!

Caribou Math Contest Prep - Tangrams

This year, all students in grades 3 and up will be participating in the six Caribou Math Contests. Every Caribou Contest has an interactive math game as one of the questions. This year there are some new games that have been added, one of which is Tangrams. 

A few weeks ago, all the students in STEM class tried using Tangrams in case it appears on an upcoming contest. 

Rube Goldberg Machines

For several weeks now, students have been testing ideas for Rube Golberg Machines. Grades 1 - 4 are working on machines that will drop a candy into a basket. Students in grade 5 and up will have machines that smash a pumpkin. 

Here is some early experimenting:

After testing out ideas, each team made a formal plan of what their machine will look like - or at least outlining all the steps. Here are some pictures of implementing the plans:

Pinhey Sand Dunes - First Visit

On Friday September 11, 2015, all students from JK - grade 8 attended an amazing day of learning and activist at the Pinhey Sand Dunes. Scientists and volunteers from Biodiversity Conservancy International taught us why it is important to save the sand dune habitat (it is the only place in the world that some insects, like the Ghost Tiger Beetle, can live), and all about the flora and fauna that live on the dunes. Our time for dune restoration was shorter than we had hoped so we made arrangements to come back another day. 

Evidence of Ant Lion activity:

Catching an Ant Lion:

More insects on the dunes:

Exploring the dunes:

Dune restoration:

We also got to learn about reptiles, although none of these species live on the dunes.