Bananas, Vacations, and More!

My how the summer is flying by! While I had planned on posting once a week that just didn't seem to happen. We started some new projects.. I had a vacation thrown in there and with getting everything ready for a week-long absence I completely overlooked updating you all with our wonderful pieces of work.

Two weeks ago my kiddos took on the tower challenge. They were tasked with building a tower that was at least 1 meter tall and could hold some weight. They were judged in three different categories: height (10 points possible), appearance (5 points possible), and weight (10 points possible). The students soon realized that the challenge was being able to fulfill those requirements when only given 30 straws, 50 paperclips, and masking tape. Students had three periods to work on it. Monday was used as a planning/building day. Judging took place the last ten minutes of the day on Friday. We had a little difficulty judging the weight but thanks to the brilliant minds of the students we came up with two different options. They could have a ziploc bag hung or a paper clip box sat on their structure. We then added pennies in groups of 5 until the structure could no longer handle it. After everything was said, done, and assigned point values the winners were selected and posted!

The Tower Challenge Winners!

Last week I went on a glorious vacation! It was a week worth of relaxing, beach time, puzzles, driving, sight seeing, and great company! There is no place like Cape Hatteras and I can't wait to go back.

Fresh crabs!

Photo Op with my mama!

While I was away enjoying all the beauty that Hatteras could offer, my kids were at school powering through another science experiment. Previously, they tried to both speed up and slow down the ripening/rotting processes of bananas. This time around there were just observing the rotting process brought on by the addition of yeast. They got to see how the bananas changed and even witness some chemical changes as the bananas produced gas in their bags.

I am now back from vacation and ready for my last week here. I'll be sad to be away from my kids in the mornings but they are getting a healthy dose of change and another great teacher. (Lucky them!) For this last week we are focusing on engineering. Groups have been switched around a little. They were then tasked with creating a K'Nex creature. Within their group they split the responsibliites. Architects are the only members allowed to look at the plans/instructions. It is their job to then go back to their groups and give the builders directions. Builders are the only members allowed to actually touch the materials. It has been an eye opening experience and today is only the first day. Students learned how important it is to give good directions and how criticcal it is to be able to follow these directions.

Day 1 Progress

Day 1 Progress

I am positive they will learn how to better work with each other. I am also positive they will finish these creatures.....eventually.  :)

Here's to a 4-day camp week filled with building, talking, listening, and working together!