“Pumpkin Chunkin” STEAM project

I wanted to share pictures from our Pumpkin Chunkin STEAM  (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) project ~ but first ~ take a quick look at the First Graders' art work on the walls downstairs!  It's just so stinkin' cute!  The owls are from last week when we were studying about owls while we read Owl Moon.   The skeletons are from a few weeks back when we had a reader that talked about bones.  I LOVE how the kids put their skeletons in all different kinds of positions ~ especially the one that is doing the "dab"!  (That student is in Mrs. Crabtree's class.) 

Our Christopher Columbus Craft with facts!  So cute!

Here is Sarah's Pumpkin Chunkin device!

Silas is working hard to invent a great Pumpkin Chunker!

Here's the gang all trying to decide what materials to use.

Silas is still working and ended up changing his several times.  That's what great inventors do!

Reid was explaining to me how his was going to work.

Mason was quite proud of his Pumpkin Chunkin device!

Kyler and Mason must have shared ideas because their's were very similar.

Reid kept adding details to his.

Ava wanted to make sure her's looked pretty!

Reid decided to test his to see how far his pumpkin might go.

These girls are working hard to create their devices!  Lillianna had time to make 2!

Murphy did lots of decorating!

Here's the whole class of Pumpkin Chunkers before the launch!

 Here's Cailyn preparing to stomp on the craft stick to launch her candy pumpkin.

 Silas's pumpkin launched very far!  You can tell this is not his original device.  

 Lilli chose this one of her two devices to launch.

 Reid made 2 devices and chose to launch his smaller one instead of the elaborate one. 

 Kyler's launched very far in the classroom, but I think he launched it too many times before the launch in the lunchroom.  The cup became cracked.  He had a great invention. 

 Caleb's was very decorated as well and he had a great idea of making the sticks long with a spoon at the end . 

 I absolutely loved watching Ava launch her's and then capturing the class's response to how far her's went!

 Look at the expressions on Kyler's, Lilli's, and Reid's faces!  Priceless!  It was sweet to see them cheer on their classmates!

 Jett's was another one that went very far in the classroom, but got cracked from over shooting before the launch in the lunchroom.  He used a rubber band to with the tension on the spoon.  Great idea!

 Mason had a great creation as well!  He also shot his a lot in the classroom before the final launch in the lunchroom.  It was just too much fun!

 Here's Sarah preparing to launch her pumpkin!  

 Here is Murphy launching her highly decorated Pumpkin Chunker.  

Here are the winners from each class!  Ava's went 522 inches ~ which was farther than anyone else by far!  Silas came in second in our class.  

Before we started making these, we watched 3 videos that explained the science behind making a trebuchet or a catapult.  One video explained where the best positioning of the fulcrum and lever should be.  One video showed children creating different types of large pumpkin launchers.  The kids asked to watch them more than once!  We watched these the day before we created them on Friday.  I loved how the kids helped one another and encouraged one another.  We also talked about growth mindset before we began to build.  

Strugglesmake me stronger.

All things

are difficult

before they

are easy.

If at first you don’t succeed,

YOU’RE NORMAL.

Kid President

Mistakes

HELP

my

BRAIN

to

grow.

Strive for

Progress

NOT

Perfection.

Make

The day to

Something

today

learn

new!

If you can

Dream It

you can

Do

It.

Walt Disney 

Those were just some of the things we discussed before they got started.  I always like to remind the kids of Philippians 4:13.  "I can do ALL things through Christ who gives me strength."  They all had great attitudes, had great fun, and hopefully, learned something from this project.  I'm looking forward to doing more STEAM projects with this group of first graders!

Math Centers ~ Balancing Equations & iPads!!!!

We got a new math curriculum this year and it is challenging ~ and yet ~ the kids are doing superb!!  I love that we are implementing math centers this year so that kids can have the opportunity to work on these skills in a small group setting every day.  They can also get help from their friends when necessary!  Here is Jett working at the "M" Making Meaning center.  He is doing a balancing equations activity! 

Reid is working at the "I" Independent center.  He is doing a cut and paste balancing equations activity.  

Kyler and Annabelle are working at the "M" (Making Meaning) center.  They are playing a game where you spin and add 3 numbers.  This photo was taken on a different day. 

Silas is at the "T" Technology center and it appears he is playing Prodigy math on this day!  They love to sit in this little scoop rockers!

Reid was all alone at centers for a few days because both of his center partners were home sick!  He is at my teacher table and we were working on the lesson for the day.

Cailyn finished her center work and is working on her math facts by playing with the Hot Dots pen and fact cards!

Ava is at the "spin and add 3 numbers" center. 

Reid and Caleb are at my teacher table completing the new lesson for the day!

Lillianna, Mason, and Cailyn are balancing equations!

Cailyn and Lillianna are practicing math facts with the Hot Dots!  This is an activity the kids can do when they complete their center work early.

These kiddos below are working together to complete a center.

Jett is at the Technology center working away at a math game!

Lillianna and Mason are finishing up their "I" center.

Annabelle, Kyler, and Ava are working at the "M" center together. 

Murphy and Silas are balancing equations!

This group finished their center before time was up and they are playing games together on the carpet.  It appears there's only 28 seconds left on the board!

Annabelle and Kyler are finishing up adding 3 numbers!

Silas and Jett are playing a Lego addition game together.  This is another fast finisher game that the kids can pull out and play when they complete their centers before the timer goes off!

Murphy is working on the XTra Math app!

Annabelle, Kyler, and Ava are playing the Lego math game together!

Lilli and Cailyn are working hard at my teacher table!

Mason is working on number bonds!

Jett is showing me how well he is doing on his math game!

There's a sneak peek into a couple of different days of math centers!  We are going to be learning about pumpkins next week and making catapults!  Hopefully, I can remember to take some photos and videos of all of that fun!!!!  I am really enjoying this sweet group of kids!