DCS STEM Class

First graders are working their way around the world -- through building. Each week, students have viewed numerous examples of architecture from a different continent and then worked to use building materials to replicate a structure that they find interesting. We are working on the skills of looking closely to try to create correspondence between our creations and the original structures and combining different building materials together to create the most accurate representations possible. Take a look at some of our work from North America, South America, and Africa below.

Last week, after reading a story about a squirrel who has nightmares about ghosts, kindergarten students designed chain reactions to help topple ghosts. Their challenge was to build the longest chain reaction that would successfully knock over their ghosts.  Take a look at some of the exciting solutions! Click to view a video of one solution in action:  https://safeYouTube.net/w/dPyv

For their first project of the year, 7th and 8th graders used LittleBits electronic kits to create something that would achieve a goal. The open-ended nature of this project led to many creative products as teams worked to find ways to use the capabilities of LittleBits to bring their ideas to life. Take a look at some of the projects created using LittleBits. This project used the Makey Makey bit to connect to a computer. Pressing one of the plums produced a piano tone on the connected computer. This project is a garage that used LittleBits to open up the door.

This week, second graders continued their journey through learning about our IDEAS mindsets by taking part in activities connected to asking questions. After learning about how careful observation helped Jane Goodall to develop curious questions, students completed a "See, Think, Wonder" thinking activity as they observed several different types of robots in the STEM lab.  Take a look at some of their noticings and questions!