Kindergarteners Design a Playground for HOT HARRY and COOL CARL!

 


 

 Dear Kindergarten Families,

    We are wrapping up our SUN unit in STEM Special and I am hoping
you may have some materials you could send in for our Playground Design
Challenge. If you do, please send in any materials to your child’s
homeroom teacher before your child’s next STEM special. We will be using
the materials for children to choose to create a model that represents sun
and shade on a playground.
Possible Donations:
Paper towel tubes
Legos/building blocks/lincoln logs
fabric/cloth...especially light colors
small dolls/action figures to place on playground
modeling clay
pipe cleaners
cereal boxes
Please note that any donation will be used and not returned. Thank you for
your support!
~Katie Martin
PreK2
STEM specialist
kmartin@mashpee.k12.ma.us
http://qesmartin4.blogspot.com/

Living and Non Living Things!

In Pre School, we have learning about the diffference between LIVING and NON LIVING things.








We decided that animals need: oxygen, food ,water, and shelter.

We decided that plants need sunlight, water and a place to grow.

All living things can grow. Only animals can move.





Here is a great video that shows different ways animals eat:

Animals need to eat!!!


We also went outside to discover different examples of LIVING and NON LIVING things around our school. 
















Finally, we have had special visitors from the Thorton Burgess Society that allow us to learn about animals of Cape Cod up close!

Lego Limbs!

 



   You've probably used Legos to build cars or buildings, but did you know that Legos can also help people with disabilities? Carlos Arturo Torres, a student from South America, is helping kids create their own prosthetic limbs out of Legos. 
   A prosthetic limb is an artificial body part for people who are missing an arm or a leg because of an accident, a disease, or an issue at birth.
   Carlos designed a prosthetic system called IKO. The device has a battery, sensors that track movement, a motor, and Lego connectors. Kids build with Legos that get attached to the device. They can make all kinds of Lego inventions for their new arm -- robotic hands, shovels, even spaceships! This cool invention lets kids with missing limbs make something fun AND functional.

Video on Lego Limbs!

Amazing Insect!!!

   Tuesday at recess, Matthew from Mrs. Goulart's second grade found a mysterious creature.  " I found it on a tree and decided to show my friends and teacher." Matthew explained. 
   We discovered that it is a type of caterpillar called a "Crowned Slug" and it can be found from Florida up to Massachusetts. Be careful because their spines can sting you! We are happy to release it back outside again! 

Here is a great close up picture we found online of the Crowned Slug: 

 

Design Squad!

Design Squad is a great STEM website that is kid friendly and fun!

This week in Grades 1 and 2, we watched how an engineer came up with a new technology to solve the problem of a melting ice cream cone!!

Lunar Eclipse!

On Sunday night, we had a special event occur in the night sky...a LUNAR ECLIPSE!

A lunar eclipse happens when the Earth's shadow covers the moon, making it look like it disappears!
 

When the moon was completely covered, the sun still shows on the shadow, making it look RED! This is called a "Blood Moon."

 

Before we had technology to help us study the sky, some civilizations thought that the moon was getting eaten by an animal such as a jaguar, pig, or toad in the sky!!!

Check out the video below for a sped up version of the lunar eclipse!!! 

Lunar Eclipse Video