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K-2 STEM

Try these STEM enriched learning activities
​online and at home.

K-2 STEM Enrichment Choice Board - April 27-30

4/27/2020

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K-2 Choice Board April 27-30.docx
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Feathers, Fur, and Scales!

4/27/2020

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Welcome back to another great week of Digital Learning! This week we are going to be studying some differences between animals. Encourage your young ones to notice the features of family pets and animals that they can safely observe outside! How could they construct an argument supported by evidence for how animals can be grouped according to their features (SKL2.a)? The challenge this week will also require students to Organize, represent, and interpret data in order to make the best choices for their design! (MGSE1.MD.4)

As good scientists do, let's learn from a great book! We like this one from James Bruchac. 

Wow! That is some great information about the differences between animals. This week, we are going to focus specifically on the bird family. There are a few things birds have in common. They all have 2 feet and wings. They are covered in feathers. They have a beak or bill, and they lay eggs. Did you know that birds can also be very different? One big difference is the sounds that different birds make. Here's an online game that will allow you to try and match the sounds of birds to pictures that could help you remember them. Are you a Bird Song Hero? Click the picture to go to the game.
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What kind of birds live near your home? Take a few days this week to really pay attention. Pick about 15 minutes a day to go outside and be still and quiet. Mornings are best, but you can try anytime that works for you. Can you hear or see any birds? If you can, try to identify what kind they might be and make a list to track your data! Here's a really helpful app for that. 
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What does your data show you? What kind of birds like to live near your home? Here's your challenge for this week! Parents, ask your students, can you use your data to help you build a bird feeder that your neighborhood birds would enjoy? Do a little research as you brainstorm ideas for different types of feeders and what type of food you may want to use. Can you use materials from home that would hold the type of food you choose? Create your bird feeder. Put it outside and see if the birds like it. Evaluate your design with these questions: Does it hold up to the spring weather? Are birds visiting and enjoying the food? Can you re-fill it? Try and improve your design if you can! 

Not able to observe birds where you live? Check out these resources and web cams from the Cornell Lab or Ornithology!

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K-2 STEM Enrichment Choice Board - April 20-24

4/20/2020

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k-2_choice_board_2.docx
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The Stupendous Spring Seed Spacer!

4/20/2020

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Welcome back to another awesome SPRING-TIME week of STEM learning!  This week, encourage your young ones to take a close look at plants.  Plants are going crazy with new growth during this season and it's a great time to observe and document.  2nd graders typically spend a great deal of time in the 4th quarter learning to investigate the life cycle of a plant by growing a plant from a seed and by recording changes over a period of time (S2L1.b).  They also study linear measurement and practice both estimating as well as measuring using standard units (MGSE2.MD).  This week, students will design a tool for planting using what they know about both of these topics! 

Materials: paper     pencil     tool for measuring (ruler, tape measure, etc.)     
                   empty cereal box (or something similar)

As always, we will begin with a book!  Here's another one that we love by Gail Gibbons!
Here's a great online interactive that shows the plant life cycle.  Can you order the steps at the end?

Once you've finished it, work with your parents to choose a plant to observe for the week.  You may have a quick-growing seed you could plant, or you might choose a plant from your yard or somewhere near your home!  Keep a plant journal this week that shows what you notice may be changing about the plant.  Day to day changes may be small, but they add up over time.
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All seeds have needs for growing into the best plants.  When you buy seeds at a store, they often tell you about some of their needs on the back of the packaging.  This package of tomato seeds says that each plant needs to be 2 feet from the plant next to it, and 4 feet from the next closest row of plants.  It says the seeds should be planted 1/4 in from the top of the soil.  That's very helpful information!

This week, we are going to create a tool that small home farmers could use for planting vegetable seeds that need to be much closer together. 
Help your child to look at a seed spacing chart and pick a certain type of vegetable whose seeds need to be planted no more than 6 inches apart.  Here is a chart that could be helpful!  Ask your child what they could make using a flattened cereal (or other thin cardboard) box to help someone planting to know just where to put the seeds.  Allow them to brainstorm some ideas.  Give them materials for both measuring and cutting so that they can create their design.  Stay nearby to help them if they decide to cut holes and need a hand!  Evaluate:  Can this be used to keep the seeds planted at the right distances from one another?  If possible, allow your child to plant a few seeds using their device.  Give them a chance to improve their design! 

Here are a few ideas for regrowing foods that you may have in your home.  No need to go to the store if you have some of these things nearby!
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Weather Watchers!

4/13/2020

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This week, encourage your young learners to observe natural systems by watching, recording, and noticing patterns of weather!  In 1st grade, students are asked to obtain, evaluate, and communicate weather data to identify weather patterns (S1E1).  The weather changes dramatically during the springtime, making this a great weekly focus! Students will be using their knowledge about wind in order to construct a kite from home materials. They will be combining 2 dimensional shapes to create a new composite shape for their creative kites (MGSE1.G.2).

Materials you will need: paper, straws, string, and markers or crayons
**If available, you can also use the following materials during construction: a ruler, tissue paper, plastic wrap, cardboard, ribbon 

Here's a great place to start- A BOOK! Please share this book with your child.
Now, let's check out a weather game!  Can you pick the right clothes to fit the weather outside? Click on the picture to visit the website.
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This week, encourage your young one to keep a weather journal for each day (you may use the one pictured here as a guide, or come up with your own format!).  Have them draw pictures or write words that represent what the weather looks and feels like.  Want to take it a step further?  Teach your child to either use a thermometer at home, or use an online tool (like this one) to look up the temperature for each day and record that information in their journals as well.  Help them use their journals to try and notice patterns by the end of the week. 

Ready for a weather-themed STEM challenge?  HERE WE GO!
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This week, students will be creating their very best wind-catching kite!  This can happen over several days and have many different iterations.  Ask your child what shapes they think will best catch the wind?  Encourage them to put a few different shapes together to create their final design.  Allow them to brainstorm some ideas.  Give them any materials you can from around your home so that students can create their kites.  Now go outside and give them a try!  Evaluate: what worked well and what didn't?  Can part of the design be changed to catch more wind?  Give students a chance to improve their kites, or maybe even try and totally different design altogether. Good Luck! 

...and try your best to keep this song from playing on repeat in your head all week! Have fun!
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    These activities are being compiled by your STEMCobb team. 

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