I know many of our Henry Ford families have more than one child here at Henry Ford so I am sending Family STEAM challenges for you to do while you are off school. The children should work together to complete the challenges. This will allow them to support each other on the projects. Parents can join in on the fun, too
Last STEAM Challenge: Make a Slusie June 4
Follow the slideshow directions below to find out.
Click here for Slushie Slideshow directions
STEAM WARS Challenge 3: Launch an Ewok May 27
Hello Padawans! Congratulations, you have made it to the 3rd STEAM Wars Challenge! This week you will be working with the Rebel alliance to defeat the Stormtroopers. Follow these steps to complete the challenge by knocking down as many Stormtroopers as possible with your launcher.
STEP 1: WATCH the Video:
STEP 2: READ the Slideshow directions:
STEP 3: CREATE YOUR LAUNCHER: each family member can create their own launcher or you can create 1 Ultimate launcher together.
STEP 4: SHARE using the Google Form
Each student needs to submit a picture of yourself with your launcher. I miss you and want to see all of your smiling faces!
The LINK to the google form is in the slideshow presentation on the last slide. Good luck Jedis-in- training. MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU!
STEAM Wars Challenge 2: Levitate a Sphere May 21
1.Watch this video to get step by step instructions on how to levitate a sphere and then record your data.
Fly a Glider Challenge: May
2. WORK TOGETHER: all the children in your family who are Henry Ford students should work together on the challenge. I have created a new form that you can submit photos of your creations and 1 data table for everyone. Just MAKE A COPY and you are ready to get
started. Click HERE for the form.
3. USE the slideshow to guide you through your Jedi Training. Levitate a Sphere Directions
STEAM Wars Challenge 1: Fly a Glider May 7
1.Watch this video to get step by step instructions on how to create and test your glider and then record your data.
2. WORK TOGETHER: all the children in your family who are Henry Ford students should work together on the challenge. I have created a new form that you can submit photos of your creations and 1 data table for everyone. Just MAKE A COPY and you are ready to get
started. Click HERE for the form.
3. USE the slideshow to guide you through your Jedi Training. Fly A Glider slideshow directions
Not a Box challenge: April 23
Shareable Project slideshow: Not a Box View photos & videos of the amazing projects made by Henry Ford students working as engineers at home!
the Special Area Teachers iLearn courses. See below for links that will take you directly to your iLearn course by grade level. You will find a video explaining the challenge, slideshow directions and a place at the bottom to submit your plans and final projects.
Link to the iLearn courses: look for STEAM assignment NOT a Box.
Young 5’s and Kindergarten Not a Box: April 23
Second Grade iLearn link
Fun Friday Activities: April 17
FUN FRIDAY ACTIVITIES: Calling all artists, engineers, scientists and musicians. Let’s create!
- LISTEN TO A STORY
- Fiona Flamingo by Rachael Chu (click on skip ads to get to the story)
- My Many Colored Days by Dr Seuss
- ART ACTIVITY with Mrs. Russell: Learn how to express your feelings with color. Video Link
- ENGINEERING ACTIVITY: HOW CAN YOU CREATE a 3D SCULPTURE OR OBJECT THAT SHOWS HOW YOU ARE FEELING TODAY?
- I chose to create a roller coaster because my feelings have been going up & down just like a roller coaster. When students send me pictures and messages , I am very excited and happy or up. I get frustrated or down when I have problems with my computer. What will you create with your family?
- STUDENT CHECK IN: How are you feeling today?
Ms. Russell and Ms. McCormick love when students send them messages. Click on the underlined link to check in with us and let us know how your are doing. WE MISS YOU!- MUSIC ACTIVITY: THE MANY MOODS OF MUSIC
Watch the DSO FACEBOOK LIVE WEBCAST:
for a chance to see how music let’s you express your feelings.
https://www.facebook.com/detroitsymphony/?utm_source=wordfly&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=19-204%2F16ECSWatchParty&utm_content=version_A&cluid=mccormk%40dearbornschools.org& - SCIENTISTS: What patterns do you notice with all of these activities?
Happy Friday! Stay Healthy & Helpful!
Mystery Animal Track Answer
Mystery Photo
Predictions: 25% students guessed a rabbit and 75% guessed a deer
Answer
Notice how his tail makes a line in the snow.
Video: HENRY FORD STRONG
Please check out the video Ms. Christoff and Ms. Burks created for our school over Spring Break. We all miss you at Henry Ford! Stay Strong, this too shall pass!
Student Paper Challenge: March 31
Second Grader, Nour sent today’s challenge. Check out her amazing structure in the photo below.
What can you create using paper?
Student Volcano Challenge : March 30
First Grader, Hussein sent the next challenge. This is the link that inspired his idea Sparkly Explosion. He decided to improve it and make a colorful explosion instead. If you click on the last box you can see a video of one of his attempts. I wonder how you can make your own volcano?
How can you create a volcano using the materials you have at home?
Family Fort Photos
April forts
March 27
Family Fort Challenge 3/26/20
One of my favorite things to do when I was growing up was to build a fort out of things we had around the house. Sometimes the forts were small and simple, and sometimes they took up half of our basement. We even built forts outside using fences, trees, swing sets and lots of sheets & blankets. Today, I built a fort to make a cozy reading spot!
My friend, Mrs. Kessel, a teacher at McCollough Unis sent me pictures of the forts her family made. One of the forts was big enough for the entire family to fit in for a movie night!
This week your challenge is to make the ULTIMATE FORT! Moms, Dads, brothers, and sisters are invited to join the fun.
Please send Ms. McCormick pictures of your ULTIMATE FORT to show me your creative building skills..
Send pictures to my email mccormk@dearbornschools.org. I will post them on my blog and Class Dojo.
HAPPY BUILDING!
Mystery Monday Challenges: 3/23/20
MYSTERY Monday CHALLENGE #1: What are the mystery animal footprints in the photos?
View 2
CHALLENGE #2: Go outside and see what kind of animal tracks you can find in your backyard. Then make a graph of all tracks you find.
I will send a picture of my graph later today. I have included photos of Michigan animal tracks to help you figure out what animals might be in your backyard.
Coronavirus Design Challenges
Challenge #3: HEALTH CHECK Posted on March 24
PROBLEM: A fever is one of the first signs that someone is getting sick, but it is hard to tell if someone has a fever just by looking at them.
POSSIBLE SOLUTION: people have their temperature taken when they enter a public building. If they don’t have a fever, they are given a sticker with the date on it, so others can see that they are okay.
A PROBLEM WITH THIS SOLUTION is: the stickers get caught up in people’s hair and/or fall off their clothes. They then fall on the ground and need to be removed.
CAN YOU FIND A BETTER SOLUTION? Design something to help us tell whether someone has a fever or is feeling unwell.
What is your idea?
Challenge #1: HANDSHAKE ALTERNATIVE
THE PROBLEM IS: people can spread germs by touching other people. Our hands carry more germs than most other parts of the body.
ONE OF THE SOLUTIONS Is: people are asked not to shake hands when they meet each other.
A PROBLEM WITH THIS SOLUTION is: people still want to greet each other in a polite and friendly way.
CAN YOU FIND A BETTER SOLUTION? Design a way that people can GREET EACH OTHER without actually touching each other.
*(I modified the challenge from the link below)
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Send your ideas in the comments below or take a picture or a video and send it to Ms. McCormick at mccormk@dearbornschools.org
Click on the underlined blue link to see the TOP 10 CORONAVIRUS DESIGN CHALLENGES from MakersEmpire .
What is your idea to greet each other safely?
Mystery Animal Photos
GUESS THE MYSTERY ANIMAL:
Observe the close up photograph of the mystery animal. Look carefully for clues on what the animal could be. Then write your prediction. Include a Claim and your Evidence. I am including some sentence stems to get you started.
CLAIM: I predict the mystery animal is ____________.
EVIDENCE: I observed the animal had _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ . That is why I predict the animal is ______________________________________________________________________________
Mystery Animal Link
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2016/03/160326-animals-features-photo-ark-quiz-science/
Animal 1
Predictions:
Do you notice a pattern in the student predictions?
Mystery Animal #1 Answer
Mystery Photo Animal #1
| Animal Predictions | Percentage of students |
| Rhino | 39% |
| Elephant | 39% |
| Slug | 7% |
| T-Rex | 15% |
It was an elephant. Notice the grey wrinkly skin and it’s large eye
MYSTERY PHOTO
ANSWER
Activity Choices
Click on the underlined headings to open the links.
1. * 15 days of Maker choices : Enjoy the maker activities! You can do them all but please complete at least 3 total over the next month. Bring the student reflection and recording sheets (the page with the blueprint) to school when we get back so I can see what you did.
2. *PBS Design squad spinner: click on the items you have at home. Spin. Get ideas on what you can build with them. Then come of with ideas of your own.
3. Fun Stay at Home activities : 8 STEM activities to try out!
Data collection
It is important to record your observations so you can share what you did with your classmates when you come back to school. Here are some choices of ways you can record your data.
Design challenges
1. Draw and label what you created . Then write 1 thing that worked well and 1 way you would improve the design.
2. Send a note or take a photo with you & your project and send it to Ms. McCormick through Class Dojo or email mccormk@dearbornschools.org3. 3. Bring your project to STEAM class once we return to school and share your observations with the class.
4. Go outside and observe plants and animals
Data Directions for Science Activities
- Draw & label your observations.
2 Then write a claim and evidence about what you noticed.
Example:
Claim: Spring is almost here.
Evidence: The weather is getting warmer and I noticed that the grass is starting to turn green.
How can you write about signs of spring or other plant and animal observations that you are noticing? Be sure to use your senses of sight, hearing, touch, and smell to make your observations.
First STEAM challenge: Hey, That’s My Monster
1st Family STEAM challenge for the week of March 16: Hey, That’s My Monster slideshow
I have also linked the Storyline Parent activity guides for the story. The guide has many great ideas for activities that support reading, writing and STEAM.
I would love if families sent photos of their monster plans and creations to my email or through class dojo.
If you have any questions feel free to email me at mccormk@dearbornschools.org or message me on class dojo.
I can’t wait to see everyone again in April. Stay safe!
Ms. McCormick