After mastering the basics of working with LEDs I challenged students to build a freestanding lamp. The requirements were that it be able to turn on/off with a switch, that it be no larger than 8" in any direction (I have major project storage constraints), and that it show a scene/character from a favorite story.
This project has taken a lot longer than I anticipated, which is fine. To make the lamps, we switched from using just copper tape to also using wires. I was surprised how much this threw off some students. I need to do more modeling/explaining next time to show that wire perform the same function a copper tape, they just work better when you are wanting to wrap them around something or feed them through a tube. The integration of light with story/character has been really interesting and some of the final projects are, in my eyes, little masterpieces.
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My third graders are diving into circuitry. This, of course, means it's paper circuit time. I wanted to respect the fact that some have prior knowledge on this subject and some are totally new to the subject. I designed a little intro packet that allows those who are experience to speed through a review and those who are new to circuitry to get a solid foundation of the basics. This went really well and my third graders really enjoyed having the chance to go at their own pace. After completing the basic intro, I gave students a challenge assignment where they needed to run 2 LEDs off a single battery and make a switch for each LED. I am attaching PDFs for the intro activity. I had them use the same batteries and LEDs throughout both assignments. ![]()
3rd graders are are studying reflection. Is there a better way to master reflection than creating wonderful, whimsical kaleidoscopes? We watched a video on how kaleidoscopes are made and then each students made a list a materials they would need for their kaleidoscope. They also made a diagram to show how they are going to assemble their kaleidoscope. ![]() Then they got to work assembling their kaleidoscopes. They did a great job understanding that the triangular prism of reflective paper was essential and they are learning why my repeated nagging about accurate measurements is important. My classes are a very short 40 minutes. As such, I suspect we will need a couple more weeks to make our fabulous, finished kaleidoscopes. Ah well, 'tis time well spent.
Before diving into our study of light color we needed to review primary colors and color mixing with pigments. What better way to do this than with shaving cream prints?
This was a fun, if a bit messy, way to review missing colors and the importance of primary colors. Next week, we shall rock the shadow boxes! The first weeks are always a bit chaotic and everything takes longer than I'd planned. Third graders have been putting the final touches on our maker journals and we had time for a quick review/knowledge check on color fundamentals. I made these little 1/2 sheets for their journals so they can refer back to them as we move forward. ![]()
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February 2020
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