A Wild Ride!

While learning about force and motion, we decided it was the perfect time to engage students in another design engineering challenge. Students worked in design teams to research, plan, and create their own roller coaster - one that was designed for speed, height, and length. Drawing conclusions about the data they collected was an added challenge, including choosing suitable graphic depictions to display their data. Talk about critical thinking! This hands-on learning experience not only made learning about the science of motion fun, but also helped students understand important concepts and how they apply in the real world. BONUS: Students developed problem-solving and collaboration skills as they experimented and improved their roller coaster designs. It was a thrilling way to learn and play!

Trending Now: Age of Discovery Trading Cards

Explorers during the Age of Discovery braved the unknown to discover new lands, resources, and more. Trade, religious fervor, empire-building, greed, and a quest for knowledge are just some of the motivations of these explorers and the countries that sponsored them.

In the interest of preserving the legacy of these brave explorers, The Hive has decided to launch a new line of trading cards to honor them. According to market research, Age of Discovery Explorer Trading Cards could quite possibly be the next trend to sweep the nation! Be on the lookout for a sample coming to your home soon! ☺

After students finished creating their trading cards, they were challenged with an opportunity to develop their critical thinking skills—this was the BEST part of the experience. Students were asked to assign a value to each explorer, similar to how a sports collector assigns a value to a baseball trading card. They first worked with a partner to discuss why certain explorers were more or less valuable, depending on their motives, accomplishments, obstacles, and legacies. Listening to one another's perspectives during this partner activity helped shape their ideas about what aspects of exploration were important during that time period, as well as their impact. We then gathered as a class to evaluate and debate our choices in a larger forum—it was a lively (and respectful) debate indeed! It was wonderful to see how much these students have grown in their ability to think independently and critically and to hear their conversations and opinions on the explorers' contributions to history. I guess you could say it was a most successful learning expedition!

Credits: Milford Schools; Fifth In the Middle

Going Berserk: Exploring Energy Through the Design Process

ber·serk

adjective

out of control with anger or excitement; wild or frenzied.

"The Vikings went berserk during the Battle of Stiklestad."

1. 
   

Just when we thought we were ready to wind down our investigation of Viking culture, things were actually ramping up! 

As we learned about the Vikings, their motives for exploration, and how Viking sieges influenced history, we were presented with the perfect opportunity to explore some of the types of siege engines they used and the science behind them - catapults (or trebuchets) in particular. Students explored the types of energy within different types of systems, the forces and motion that play a role in designing simple machines, the relationship between potential and kinetic energy, and the role energy transfer plays in each stage of launching a catapult's payload. This offered a unique opportunity for an engineering design challenge that required learners to investigate how kinetic energy influences the design of simple machines. Students were tasked with planning, designing, and testing their own prototype for a catapult that would later be used in our very own Viking siege - SKOL! Check out these Viking berserkers!

Fourth Grade Fairways: 2024 Mini Golf Expo

Fourth grade students in The Hive recently took on an exciting project that combined creativity with their mathematical skills by designing their own mini golf course. Students applied mathematical concepts they learned this year (ie. area, perimeter, geometry, measurement, and angles) to create unique and challenging mini golf holes. This hands-on activity not only allowed them to showcase their understanding of math in a fun and practical way, but also fostered teamwork and problem-solving skills. The mini golf expo was a hit, with students proudly hosting third grade students to play their "course".