Newton Disc (4th Grade)

Hello children of 4th grade!

As we all know, Sir Isaac Newton, discovered that discovered that WHITE LIGHT is made up of these colours:

RED, ORANGE, YELLOW, GREEN, BLUE, INDIGO and VIOLET.

Don't you believe that? Then, try to do this experiment at home:

Electricity (6th Grade)

Hello everyone!

In 6th grade we are studying the ELECTRICITY. Let us show you some of the contents learnt:

We know that all objects have electrical charges. Some charges are positive, PROTONS, and some are negative, ELECTRONS.

Sometimes, the negative charges pass from one object to another. For example:

- By rubbing a pen to a piece of cloth, we pass negative charges from the cloth to the pen. Now the pen is (negatively) electrically charged. So, it can attract small pieces of paper.

- Or by rubbing a balloon to a piece of cloth, we pass negative charges to the balloon. So, it is attracted to other objects:

- But when we approach 2 negatively charged balloons, they repel:

This is STATIC ELECTRICITY.

We also know ho to build an electrical circuit, which carries electrical current:

Finally, we can say if some materials are conductors or insulators after adding them into the circuit. For example:

Wood: insulator.

Pencil lead: conductor.

Pencil lead: conductor.

Salt water: conductor.

STEM Challenge #12: Floating boats

Hello!

3rd Grade pupils have a new STEM Challenge to show you:

"Design and build 2 different floating boats for capacity".

These were the materials provided:

Students, in small groups, had 30 minutes to build 2 different floating boats.

Once they had built the boats, they had to test their capacity, measured with cents.

It was incredible how they managed to build boats designed to hold as much capacity as possible:

STEM Challenge #11: Frosted forest

Good morning!

Let us introduce a new STEM Challenge, carried out by the students of 3rd Grade:

"Design and build a frosted tree"

Materials:

This Challenge has been adapted from Kerry Tracy and is specially focused on Maths.

Pupils should build a tree with icicles on its branches. These icicles are already given to them: they have a printed sheet full of triangles, which are divided into 3 groups (Equilàter, Isòsceles, Escalè; in Catalan). Moreover, each triangle has some points.

Pupils have to build a tree following these criteria and restrictions:

• Icicles cannot touch the ground or extend beyond the branch. 
• There can't be 2 triangles of the same type in one branch.

At the end, each group counted their points! ;)

Scientist of the month: Ada Lovelace

Hi everyone!

For 6th graders, a new month means a new scientist to discover :)

ADA LOVELACE

Ada Lovelace (originally Augusta Ada Byron) was born on the 10th December 1815 in London. She was a writer and a mathematician. 

She is considered the world's first computer programmer (although computers weren't invented until one hundred years later!!!). 

 In the Science class we have discovered some facts about her interesting life. 

Please, don't forget to watch this video about Ada:

STEM Challenge #10: Hibernating bears (4th Grade)

Hello!

STEM Challenge #10 was also carried out by pupils from 4th A Grade. Have a look at their nests ;)

STEM Challenge #10: Hibernating bears

Hello!

These short, cold days of winter many animals experience a process called hibernation. For example: squirrels, groundhogs, bats, turtles, snakes or bears.

Previously, they prepare a nest where they "sleep" for a long period of time. Some animals wake during hibernation to eat and relieve themselves, while others sleep through the entire winter.

STEM Challenge #10 engages pupils to:

"Design and build a nest for a hibernating bear".

Materials:

Building time: 40 minutes.

Pupils should consider some criteria and restrictions. For example: nests must have an entrance/exit or bears must be protected from the rain, snow and wind.

We make cell models (5th Grade)

Good morning!

In 5th Grade we are learning about the CELLS.

First, we answered what, where and how cells are.

Then, we observed different cells through a microscope.

After, we classified them into ANIMAL CELLS and PLANT CELLS. We read about their main parts and we decided to build a big model of them.

Pupils worked in groups.

5th A Class

STEAM Challenge #9: Thanksgiving!

Hello everyone!

Today we want to share with you an activity we did some weeks ago.

It was Thanksgiving Day, so our teacher engaged us to thank our friends for something they do that makes us happy.

It is a nice activity with a surprising result that you can repeat at home next Thanksgiving Day or at Christmas! Here you have the steps:

First, you must print and colour this star-shaped picture, as beautiful as you can:

Then, you have to cut the star carefully:

After, in the middle of the picture, you have to write a Thanksgiving message addressed to one friend and cover it with the tips of the star:

Finally, put the star on water and...

Wow! It opens so that your friend can read your message!

STEM Challenge #8: Bridges!

Hello, how are you?

3rd Graders are ready to present you their new STEM Challenge:

"Build a strong bridge that crosses a river and allows boats to sail below it".

Materials: straws, popsicle sticks and 50cm of masking tape.

Building time: 30 minutes.

First iteration pictures:

On the second iteration, we are going to study bridges in depth so that we can build stronger bridges.

(Halloween) STEM Challenge #7: Bones bridge!

Hello!!!

Here there is another (Halloween) STEM Challenge:

"Build the longest and strongest possible BONES BRIDGE."

Pupils were given 25 minutes and the following material:

At first, they found the challenge pretty hard. It was difficult to build a stable bridge and capable of supporting weight.

Pupils needed some extra advice. So, they watched the following video and we talked about it in class:

The next day, all the groups improved their bridges. Look:

6th A Bridges

6th B Bridges

(Halloween) STEM Challenge #6: Spider-catcher!

Hello, everyone!

He-heeeee, it's Halloweeeen!!!!!

STEM Challenges are always great. They help develop our students' building skills, group-work abilities or design thinking, among other capacities.

This week, taking advantage of Halloween, we decided to challenge our pupils the following way:

"Design and build a SPIDER CATCHER".

We can assure that it is more difficult than it seems!

Pupils were given the following material:

In small groups, they had 20 minutes to build a spider catcher with a surface of 25x25cm. 

Once they got the Catcher (or after 20 minutes), a member of another group should throw spiders all over the device. Then, pupils should raise it carefully and see how many spiders remained caught: