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May 13: Family STEM Night, Classroom Updates

Dear Frisco Families,

I am looking forward to seeing the families who signed up for Family STEM Night on May 18 at 6:00! I will see you in the STEM lab next to the library-media center for some creative building time.

Kindergarten focused on creativity and building strategies this week, as they used pipe cleaners and playdough to express themselves. We looked at other kindergarten work in order to get ideas for different ways to put the materials together, and several worked as a table to create things like a restaurant.

First grade got to build the Lego wall, and the Lego wall is featuring inventions by kids! 

Second grade built aluminum foil boats that float and hold as many bottle caps as possible. After they drew a paper prototype in order to ideate (brainstorm) individually, they shared their ideas with their table in order to come up with a group plan. They are getting better and better at collaboration.

Fourth grade tested their creations to protect eggs from forces. We had discussed how there are a lot of forces in sports, and their egg is much like a brain. You will see the excitement in the "reveal" photos below, as they cut open their build to see how the egg survived.

VEX is officially over, but next year, we will likely start the year with an official VEX competition team, so there will be a lot more time for modifications. This was such a fun warm-up. Mr. Hansen built our game board for us, so a huge THANK YOU to him. Part of a real competition involves driving your bot for one minute in order to clear balls out of squares, hang, and deposit balls into goals. All have a certain point value. Naomi was the first to nail a "hang" followed quickly by the others. Connor and Henry/Elliott were speedy at clearing the balls from squares, too.

We probably have one more STEM newsletter in front of us! Have a wonderful week and weekend!

Jen Mortensen


Photographs

5th Grade Builds

Kindergarten play-dough and pipe cleaners play

4th Grade egg drop

VEX Robotics pics


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