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and most importantly - what our AIG students are up to! Enjoy!
and most importantly - what our AIG students are up to! Enjoy!
Our elementary AIG students have been working on constructing the perfect catapults. Despite their limited resources, they made it happen! Throughout the process, they learned about projectiles, trajectory, and potential and kinetic energy. FUN FACT: Did you know that when you pull a rubber band, the tension you feel in the stretch is stored potential energy? Check out our kids as they explored STEM through the creation of take-home catapults. We made it, guys! Have a great summer! T.S. Cooper ElementaryBUckland ElementaryGatesville ELementary
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Buckland Elementary
CMSSo, you know everything you just read about balloons, skewers, and Science at Buckland? Apply all of that to the photo dump below of our CMS Science Magic Squad. *But wait, there's more*After making balloon kebabs, our CMS AIG students further explored surface tension with another "magic trick" - making paper clips float! Did you know that by laying a paper clip on tissue, then placing it gently on water, the water molecules will form a membrane-like layer that remains even when the tissue does not? This is surface tension - and it made our paper clips float! Catapult ConstructionLast week we started a two-part STEM challenge at CMS - the science behind catapults. After discussing projectiles, trajectories, as well as potential and kinetic energy, our students got to work constructing catapults with limited resources. They were provided skewers, popsicle sticks, rubber bands, a milkshake straw, a small cup, and a roll of masking tape. The goal? Build a catapult that would launch a cotton ball and cap eraser a reasonable distance. Our kids were also provided with a tutorial video, however many of them chose to "do their own thing." CATAPULT LaunchingCongratulations to Mason W. and Cadence R. - they managed to launch a cap eraser TWENTY TWO FEET! Congratulations to our second place winner, Logan K., for launching his cap eraser 19 feet and Carson S., coming in third, with 15 1/2 feet. I'd like to give all of our kids shout-outs... they did GREAT! ** Nobody was injured or harmed in the making and testing of these catapults.
T.S. CooperBuckland ElementaryGatesville elementaryCooking with Aubrey
I love a good cooking project! Aubrey, a fifth grader at Gatesville Elementary, used the Passion Project as a way to practice cooking delicious food for her family. My favorite part about Aubrey's project is that she chose a wide variety of food to cook - from breakfast to dessert, from ethnic cuisine to a familiar favorite! Check out Aubrey's slideshow below. It's jam-packed with pictures and videos that highlight her experience! It definitely made me hungry! Great job, Aubrey! You get a TEN out of TEN!
Gaming with Brayden
"Pawsitive" research with Ella
I think we may have a future veterinarian on our hands here, people! Ella, a fifth grader at Gatesville Elementary, is definitely what I would consider a "cat person." She took her PASSION to the PROJECT and learned some amazing things about her favorite animal! Ella selected three specific breeds to learn about and did in-depth research. Her project was informative and (as always) creative! My favorite part was her special shout-out to a few wild breeds at the close of her presentation. Be sure to watch the recording of Ella's live presentation below. Great job, Ella! You get a TEN out of TEN!
That's right - we are back with ANOTHER round of Passion Projects! Our elementary students have worked very hard and deserve the same introduction that our CMS students received earlier this year. Without further ado... THE BACKGROUND INFO - DID YOU KNOW...In the 1950s, the 3M Company started a "15% Project," which allowed employees to peruse an idea that interested them and would benefit the company. Out of this 15% time came Post-it Notes, masking tape, and more. Building on 3M’s idea, Google began a "20% Project" initiative which gave their employees one work day a week to spend on a pet project that they would not normally work on the other four days. Because of this program, almost 50% of Google’s products come out of the 20% time, including Gmail, AdSense, and Google News. WHAT ARE OUR KIDS PASSIONATE ABOUT?Why not let our students in on this opportunity? This idea of pursuing a Passion Project is spilling over classrooms everywhere. Teachers are allowing students to do something that really interests them that they wouldn’t normally be able to do at school. Our elementary AIG students have been exploring their passions through an independent study of their choice. With an end goal in mind, they have practiced skills such as time-management, integration of technology, creativity, and public speaking. They have been self-motivating, "Meet"-ing, and checking in every week using Google Classroom. THE TIMELINE: A BRIEF RUNDOWNWeek 1: Introduction and Topic Selection Weeks 2-4: Steady work and Check-In #1, 2, and 3 Week 5: Draft Presentation development, Check-In #4 Week 6: Final Check-In and Presentations (We made it, guys!) THE PresentationsThe students you will soon see spotlighted researched, plan, and put in time and effort over the past six weeks to complete a Passion Project of their own. Now only are we still navigating uncharted waters during a time full of new things, THESE PROJECTS WERE NOT GRADED. The reward from the hard work was the fruit of a new skill, new knowledge, or self-exploration. I am so proud of these students. Be sure to check-in for new spotlights and follow their journeys!
Our CMS students spent seven weeks diving into a brand-new STEM experience: take home AIG STEM challenge kits! Each weekly kit included instructions and materials to explore STEM in a fresh way as well as directions to access a tutorial video. We chatted about each challenge during our weekly Monday Zoom. Our kids experimented with surface tension, explored potential and kinetic energy through catapult construction, created "robotic" hands, participated in a pasta tower challenge and grew salt crystals. It was a blast! Elementary: The pAssion Project
CMS: TAKE-HOME STEM KITSDuring February and March, our CMS AIG students are getting special shipments - weekly take-home STEM challenges! Each weekly kit includes instructions and materials to explore STEM in a new and fresh way. We may or may not be making salt crystals, catapults, pasta towers - who knows? The only way to find out for sure is to visit your AIG Google Classroom and sign up using the form provided! Our students will complete these tasks independently but will also receive enough materials to complete the activity AGAIN during our weekly Zoom. With parental permission, our kids are encouraged to record each challenge on social media using the unique hashtags found in their kits. We also have our own Instagram account - follow us at @gates_aig (again, with parental permission)! This is going to be FUN!
Hey elementary kids - you'll be doing this after spring break!GCHS: AIG Book Club
CMS KIDS: Are you ready for another book club? (Hint Hint!)
What we have here folks are two girl who LOVE to make an impact! Avery and Katelyn, both students at CMS, decided to design and sell Pura Vida bracelets for profit. They, in turn, will donate all of their proceeds to Relay for Life. These girls designed their bracelets, set a price so that there would be a profit, created a Google Order Form, publicized through word of mouth and social media, and MORE! Not only did they meet their goal of selling 50 bracelets (they sold 57), they took a chance and plan to sell an additional 43 - totaling 100 bracelets! Check out all of their great info below!
TED Talk
CONGRATULATIONS AVERY AND KATELYN! You used this project as an opportunity to make an impact - that makes you both superstars! Be sure to leave these girls some love in the comments!
Welcome back to our Passion Project Spotlights! We are starting with Benjamin, who created the "Porch Side Podcast." Benjamin's initial goal was to host a live talk show, hoping to reach over 20 viewers in a live session. As many of our Passion Projects go (and what is so beautiful about this journey), Benjamin had to evolve his goal as he worked. The end result was two very entertaining and enlightening video podcasts with CMS employees!
Benjamin definitely has a talent for speaking of the cuff and has that special "thing" that makes him a great podcast host. I can't wait to see what he comes up with next. Never quit, Bemjamin! Check him out! *A special THANK YOU to Mrs. Manglona and Mrs. Harders for taking the time to interview! TED TALKMotivation - Podcast with Mrs. Manglona (part 1)MOTIVATION - PODCAST WITH MRS. MANGLONA (PART 2)"Space" [and more] - PODCAST WITH MRS. Harders (Part 1)"SPACE" [AND MORE] - PODCAST WITH MRS. HARDERS (PART 2)
CONGRATULATIONS BENJAMIN! You have certainly found a talent (and hopefully a market) for a kid-based podcast! Be sure to leave Benjamin some love in the comments!
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