STEAMing Ahead with Susan

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

STEM@home: Engineering

Engineering@home

When most people think of engineering, they think of professionals designing bridges or skyscrapers. Although those are great examples of engineering, it can also be defined as designing solutions to common problems. For instance, how can I collect the water that rains onto my roof and use it in my garden?

Children are natural-born scientists and engineers. And, they aren't afraid of failure. Because, to them, it's not failure; it's just a step in the design process. If their design fails the initial test, they redesign and build again. Over and over. If your child fails to engineer an electric circuit on their first try, encourage them to analyze why it didn't work the way they wanted.

Although there are really cool gadgets on the market that can build robots out of soda cans, you don't have to break the bank to encourage your child to engineer. Legos are a perfect way to get your child started. And the possibilities are endless. K'Nex are also a resource at home that can be used to produce many different designs. K'Nex has the addition of motorized pieces, which adds a really fun element to engineering.

The drawback of Legos and K'Nex is that they usually appeal to boys. Girls haven't really had an engineering toy that has appealed to them. Until now. One of the most talked about commercials during the Super Bowl was the Goldie Blox commercial. Goldie Blox is a new company, producing engineering toys for girls.

"By tapping into girls' strong verbal skills, our story + construction set bolsters confidence in spatial skills while giving young inventors the tools they need to build and create amazing things."

Even household items can be used for engineering projects. Paper towel tubes and duct tape offer endless possibilities. Plastic spoons and playdough can be used to make water wheels.

Here is an easy recipe to make homemade playdough:

NO COOK PLAYDOUGH
2 c. flour 1 c. salt 1 tbsp. oil 1 c. water Food coloring Mix flour and salt, then add oil. Mix the food coloring with the water. Slowly add water until the mixture is soft and pliable. Store in airtight container in refrigerator.

STEM@home is a series focusing on bring STEM activities into your home. Read on and experience STEM@home today:

STEM@home: Science - Watching Science on TV
STEM@home: Science - Exploring national parks
STEM@home: Technology - Using apps to support your child
STEM@home: Math - Playing math games at home

Digital Learning Day, Everyday

Imagine this scenario: a young boy is turning 16 and wants to get his driver's license. He enrolls in a course that promises to make him a 21st century driver. His course begins with a lecture and a textbook. The book is pretty with full-color pictures of road signs. His instructor is adept at technology and she puts the textbook under the document camera, to be projected onto the interactive whiteboard. The teacher allows the boy to move cars on a map on the interactive whiteboard. She even has manipulatives (toy cars) for him to drive on a rug with roads and intersections. When he has passed his paper exams, she takes him outside to the real car. She gets into the driver's seat and he in the passenger seat. As they drive, she tells him, "good drivers always signal before a turn" and "on the day of the test, don't forget to start braking 30 yards in advance". The next day is the test. He walks into the Motor Vehicle Department with his pencil. He is ready.

Or, is he? Is he likely to pass a driving test in a real motor vehicle? Probably not. Yet, that is exactly what will happen to thousands of students. The test is next year. Ok, technically, there is a test every year, but next year, the test goes digital. Yes, many classrooms have document cameras and projectors. That's technology. That counts, right? Or, the district had money and purchased interactive whiteboards. I'm sure that the teacher is wonderful at using technology. However, the digital test will require that our students use the technology. Digital testing requires digital learning.

Watch this video from ISTE 2014 about the digital test:

Whiteriver Unified School District is taking a unique approach to preparing students for the PARCC assessment. To give purpose and direction to the introduction of mobile technology, STEM units and Project-Based Learning are now driving training and instruction so that students are PARCC ready. Students will engage with the technology every day in their STEM units.

The activities selected in the STEM units have been created to replicate the released sample PARCC questions. The sample questions have been released so that teachers and curriculum developers and curriculum mappers will look at them. They are to help guide a teacher in how to shift their verbiage, writing prompts, or classroom assessments. They are not meant to be hidden; a surprise. So, let's explore some of them together.

"To get a true understanding of the range of rigor, item types and functionalities, users should try test items in more than just one grade, as each grade level does not have all item types. "

First, go to PARCConline.org . Click the For Educators tab at the top.

You will see helpful links on the left side, like Model Content Frameworks. We'll discuss that on another blog post. For now, look at New! Try out sample test questions:

Click on Try the Sample Test Items

Click the Sample Items Tab

Select your grade level on the left

As you work your way through the test, list some of the testing vocabulary that you see. For instance, the phrases "best supports that answer" and "the best evidence to Part A" come up frequently. As a teacher or parent, you can begin to use that verbiage in your everyday interactions with the students. In the writing portions, the phrase "cite your source" comes up often. You can adopt that phrase as your own, by saying it (or writing it) for journal entries and formal writing prompts.

February 5th is Digital Learning Day. Hopefully, our students experience digital learning everyday. Afterall, digital testing requires digital learning.

Sunday, February 2, 2014

STEM@home: Math

Math@home

There are many ways to work on math skills at home. Playing games is probably my favorite. Never boring, usually loud, mostly funny, sometimes messy and always engaging. You most likely already have the supplies needed and can get started today!

Card Games:

There are as many card games as there are skill levels. If your child is young, you may want to play Quick Draw. Deal out the cards to the two players. One player calls "draw!" and the two players flip over their top card. Both players add the numbers shown in their head. The first player to shout out the correct sum keeps both cards. Play continues until all cards have been played. The winner is the player with the most cards.

This game can be changed ever so slightly to work on subtraction. Or multiplication. Whatever level your child is on right now, they can do this with cards. There are many great resources online. Making Math More Fun is an 89 page "book" online with 41 card games for all levels, plus cards to print out. (Click here to see the book)

If you don't have a deck of cards, you can print them from the book mentioned above. Dollar stores usually have decks for $1. If you live near a casino, you can get used decks for free. Casinos have to change out their decks periodically to prevent cheating. The decks just pile up to be thrown away. If you go in and ask at the cashiers booth, they will more than likely give you a handful. I have done this every year for my classroom and have received over 100 decks of cards, for free.

Dice Games:

There are just as many dice games as there are card games. Do a simple Google or Pinterest search using "dice games for students" and you will find hundreds.

One of my boys' favorite dice games was Two Dice Toss. You can use a pre-printed graph or make your own. You will also need something to write with (mine preferred crayons) and two dice. Player 1 rolls both dice and adds them up. They color in a box on the graph with the same sum. For instance, if they rolled a 2 and a 5, they would color in a box on the 7. Play continues until one sum reaches the top of the graph first. Or until your food arrives at the restaurant. (My boys used to love this game so much, I put two dice in my purse and we played at restaurants while waiting for our food)

A great online resource for dice games is Mathwire.com. They have games for one dice, two dice, dominoes, and coins.

Friday, January 24, 2014

STEM@home: Technology

STEM, which stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math, is a term used by teachers to encompass lessons and projects which include these subjects. STEM units usually start with a problem. The teacher guides the students through discovery and experimenting to find solutions. STEM does not just happen at school. In fact, STEM can be very effective, engaging, and fun at home.

Over the last few weeks, we have been looking at the various aspects of STEM and how you can encourage your child at home.

Do you feel like computers are taking over and all the jobs in the future will require computer skills? Do you ever feel like your child knows computers better than you do? Let's face it; they probably do. They are digital natives. Computers are a first language for them. For us, we learned a typewriter first. Or, maybe we learned on a word-processor. We remember the days when computers were for research papers and not for digital storytelling with video and music. But, since computers are a part of our students' daily lives, we need to support our students.

How do I support my child?

Chances are, if you have a smartphone, you probably have an Angry Birds or Minecraft app. That's fine. In fact, this year, our high school students used Angry Birds to design a life-sized trebuchet (type of catapult) to launch pumpkins across a field. STEM Club students will use Minecraft to design a dam that will replicate the Miner Flat Dam on the reservation. But, what about other apps? There are literally thousands. How is a parent to choose?

The easiest way is to search using the words "best apps for education". Many apps offer a freemium version. Freemium refers to apps that are free to download but require payment for special options. Think: Candy Crush Saga. You might have downloaded it for free but then were tempted to spend $1.99 to buy a candy bomb or more lives. Many math apps are freemiums. The beginner levels are free and then as you advance through the grades, they will charge you. I encourage you to try the free versions. You may discover that your child is not motivated by that app. It happens. They might not like the graphics or the "awards" they earn for passing levels. No loss. You didn't pay for it anyway. But don't stop there. Go online and search for another math app that they might like. If you find one that truly engages them and is educationally sound, you might want to spend the $3.00 to upgrade for the next 5 levels.

There are just as many (if not more) apps for English Language Arts. There are apps that have the child trace the letters. Some flash sight words on the screen. Many are e-readers. E-readers are books online. There are many different types of e-readers. Some are simply words on a page. This is similare to Kindle. Many have pictures. And even others have the option to have the page read to your child. Again, download a few and see which ones hold your child's attention.

If you have an android phone or device, you can start your search here.

If you have an iPad or iPhone, you can start your search here.

For Math apps, click here.

For Science apps, click here.

For Reading apps, click here.

Let's start a discussion. What are some of your favorite apps?

Friday, January 17, 2014

Arizona Sample Questions

Arizona is a part of the Race to the Top initiative and hence will be taking a new, online assessment this year. After years of multiple choice, "fill in the bubble" assessments, the digital test will seem like a whole new venture.

The standards are different (AzCCR), the format is different (online), and the way to answer is completely different! Although there is likely to be some multiple choice, there is more drag-and-drop, sliders, online calculators, etc.

Because the assessment is so novel, ADE has released sample test questions. The sample questions are available in multiple formats.

The first format is "student version". Students may click on the "assessments" to practice and to get a feel for the format and features, such as drag-and-drop. Teachers may wish to do this whole class, especially with a mimio. Teachers may also like to "assign" the assessment to students. Either way, allowing students to see the new assessment would help them get over the shock factor.

This picture shows a drag-and-drop question. The text on the left is longer than the screen size. The student may scroll using the slider in the middle. Note that the question is asking about Caribou, Moose, and Both. To reference the Moose passage, students need to click on the tab at the bottom.

This screenshot shows a task requiring a student to compare two texts. Again, you can see that the student can toggle back and forth between texts by using the tab at the bottom. The students can also access the rubric. The instructions state that students should take notes before selecting "Go on".

This is a screenshot of the very next page. For students familiar with typing online, this should not be earth-shattering. However, for students who rarely type, this might be intimidating.

Some students may be asked to highlight directly in the text. Notice the prompt on Part B of this question from 11th grade.

Another format is "teacher version". The teacher version is much like the student version, however it has tabs on the top. When you initially open the assessment, you are defaulted to the "Question" tab. Teachers may then click on the "Rationale" tab and see the correct answers. The standards tab is self-explanatory. The most interesting tab is the "Metadata" tab. Here is an example from 3rd Grade ELA:

You can see that questions are worth a variety of point values. In fact, on the Math assessments, students may score points for correct rationale, but incorrect answers.

How to View Your Sample Assessment

Go to Arizona's new page devoted to the new assessment: http://www.azed.gov/assessment/new/

Scroll down and click on the tab for Arizona Sample Items.

You will see a list of available sample assessments. ADE is creating more assessments to be updated as soon as they become available. Even if you do not see your grade level represented here, it would be beneficial to see what is required of other grades.

Thursday, January 16, 2014

STEM@home: Science

What are you doing this weekend?

The kids have a 3-day weekend and you are probably itching to go somewhere. Why not make it a Science Weekend!?

In honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, all 401 national parks and monuments will waive their entrance fee.

Arizona is home to the following parks:

Casa Grande Ruins National Monument

Chiricahua National Monument

Glen Canyon National Recreation Area

Grand Canyon National Park

Lake Mead National Recreation Area

Montezuma Castle National Monument

Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument

Petrified Forest National Park

Pipe Spring National Monument

Saguaro National Park

Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument

Tonto National Monument

Tumacacori National Historical Park

Tuzigoot National Monument

Walnut Canyon National Monument

Wupatki National Monument

Most national parks and monuments offer a free Junior Ranger program. The Junior Ranger program is a fun way for children to learn about the science of the national park. Simply go to the ranger station or museum when you enter the park. Notify a ranger that your child would like to be a junior ranger. They will give you a booklet and a pencil. Some activities require the child to sit still and observe nature; making drawings of the plants and animals they can see. Some activities are like treasure hunts. As you explore the park as a family, be looking for clues to the questions in the booklet. When your child has completed the book, return it to the ranger station. Some parks have a big pomp and circumstance and officially swear-in your child as Junior Ranger. Some simply give your child a plastic ranger badge. Either way, it's highly motivating to children.

Petrified Forest

Petrified Forest is the closest national park to the White Mountains. Even if you have visited there in the past, I encourage you to go again. Petrified Forest recently received more land; 4,265 acres to be exact. Researchers have found rare dinosaur fossils on the land and say it contains much more. If going to the Petrified Forest, check out their Junior Ranger program online.

Flagstaff

If you are interested in going a little further from home, Flagstaff is a great location. Flagstaff is the gateway to the Grand Canyon. It is also home to the Lowell Observatory. They will be debuting a new event, called "Black Holes" on Saturday.

This exhibit was developed by educators and scientists at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics (CfA). Its interactive stations address a number of questions, such as: What is a black hole? Where are black holes? How do we find black holes if they are really black? What would happen if you fell into a black hole?

You can help your student gain more background knowledge in Science by doing activities at home. This weekend, how about going outside to learn more about Science; together.

Friday, January 10, 2014

STEM@home

Is your student always asking questions? Why is the sky blue? How does our TV work? Where does our drinking water come from? As a parent, there are many different ways to respond. One way is to investigate the answers together in a way that encourages your student to think like a scientist.

STEM, which stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math, is a term used by teachers to encompass lessons and projects which include these subjects. STEM units usually start with a problem. The teacher guides the students through discovery and experimenting to find solutions. STEM does not just happen at school. In fact, STEM can be very effective, engaging, and fun at home.

Over the next few weeks, we will be looking at the various aspects of STEM and how you can encourage your child at home.

Science@home

Although there are many ways to explore science at home, TV is probably the easiest because it helps build background knowledge. Background knowledge is a term that teachers use to refer to what students already know about a subject before the teacher begins to explain it in depth. For instance, if a teacher were to do a lesson on quantum physics, students would need to know about algebra.

How do I help my child?

You can help your child build background knowledge in two ways. One way is to flip through the channels until you find something sciency (I'm declaring that a new word). Given cable and satellite services, there is bound to be a science program on at any given time.

Another way to help your child is to find specific programs. What are your students interests? Bugs? Outer-space? Mechanics? The world of science is broken into three main specialties: Life, Earth, and Physical. Life Science encompasses everything from human life, to animals, and even plant life. Earth Science revolves around our planet and the universe. Finally, Physical Science explains how and why things move. If your child loves making her toy cars go down a ramp, chances are that she will enjoy shows like "How It's Made" and "How Do They Do It".

What science programs are on TV?

Many channels provide at least one science program. Some channels, such as The Discovery Channel, provide more. Some of the more common channels and their programs include:

Discovery Channel: Mythbusters, Battlefield Cell, and Curiosity
Science Channel: How Do They Do It, How It's Made, and Strip the City (My new fave show)
History Channel: America the Story of Us, Mankind the Story of All of Us, and Star Trek Secrets of the Universe
National Geographic: Brain Games, Going Ape, and Untamed Americas
PBS: Scientific American, Savage Earth, and Wonders of the African World
Turner Classic Movies

That last channel probably through you for a loop. Turner Classic Movies? Science? In the month of January, TCM is broadcasting "Science in the Movies" on Friday nights. Click on the link to be directed to a page with the lineup of the movies and their showtimes. For instance, last week the channel featured movies about Madam Curie.

So, tonight, pop some popcorn, curl up with a blanket, and learn about science with your child, at home.

My STEM Units