Monroe Elementary School Mathematics. Science and Children's Engineering

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In this Trimester 1 science unit, we work extensively with earth materials--observing, comparing, and communicating what we learn.  Our focus of study is on rocks, one of the most important earth materials.  Our investigations center on the properties of rocks and the uses of various rock sizes (pebbles, gravel, sand, silt, and clay).  We also investigate soil, its properties, and uses.

 

The BIG IDEAS students learn from this unit:

*Scientists use a variety of methods and tools to observe the natural world and communicate their discoveries with others.

*Solid rocks, sand, and soil have observable physical properties that make them useful.

*People throughout the history of cultures have utilized earth materials to sustain and enhance life.

 

 

 

 

 

Each first grade classroom has a set of 11 iPads for students.  The iPads are used for student assessments and learning.  Students receive weekly technology instruction during CORE.  Technology is also an integral part of Project Lead the Way (see ENGINEERING).

 

 

 

Project Lead the Way is our school resource for engineering.  It is aligned to Next Generation Science Standards, Common Core State Standards for Math and English Language Arts, and other national and state standards.

PLTW taps into the exploratory nature of students, engaging them in learning that feels like play, and encourage them to keep discovering.  The program empowers students to adopt a design-thinking mindset through compelling activities, projects, and problems that build upon each other and relate to the world around them. And as students engage in hands-on activities in computer science, engineering, and biomedical science, they become creative, collaborative problem solvers ready to take on any challenge. 

Animal Adaptations Module  Students explore animal adaptations for protection, camouflage, food obtainment, and locomotion. Students learn what it means for an organism to be adapted to its environment and how different adaptations can be categorized. Students are introduced to the design challenge and challenged to design the ideal shoe for travelers to wear in extreme environments, applying what they have learned and looking to plant and animal adaptations to guide their designs.

Animated Storytelling Module  Students explore the sequential nature of computer programs through hands-on activities, both with and without a computer. They examine key aspects of storytelling and devise how to transition a narrative from page to screen. Students discover the design problem through a story about Angelina, Mylo, and Suzi, who wish they could find a way to create a story with characters who move and interact with each other. Combining fundamental principles of computer science with story-building skills, students develop animations that showcase characters, settings, actions, and events from short stories of their own creation.

Light:  Observing the Sun, Moon, and Stars Module  After observing the sun, moon, and stars, students identify and describe patterns in their recorded data. A story about Angelina, Mylo, and Suzi introduces the design problem, which challenges students to create a playground structure designed to protect students from ultraviolet radiation. Students utilize their knowledge of light to design, build, and test structures created to solve this problem. Students then evaluate their designs, share their findings, and explore ideas to improve their structures based on the testing data.

Light and Sound Module Students investigate the properties of light and sound, including vibration from sound waves and the effect of different materials on the path of a beam of light. After students develop an understanding of light and sound, they are challenged to solve a design problem Mylo, Suzi, and Angelina face. In the story, the characters are lost and must use only the materials in their backpack to communicate over a distance by using light and/or sound. Students use the design process to sketch, build, test, and reflect on a device that solves this design problem.

 

MATHEMATICS

See Guided Math and Everyday Mathematics links in left search bar.