S.T.R.E.A.M.withMs.Gillis - First

Communication Game Part 2: Can You Build a Structure with a Partner, without using words?

Mon, 07 May 2018 21:44:00 +0000

We got to keep working on using other forms of communication besides sound in the Maker's Space with Ms. Gillis! With a partner, we creating different signals that had different meanings. We used these signals to work together and build a unique structure without using our voices! We came up with so many wonderful designs. When we discussed our experiment after, we all agreed how different it was using signals instead of voices, and how we created unique structures that we might have not if we used our voices to communicate! Take a look at some of our amazing creations!

We love getting to bring Science in the Maker's Space! Next, we will be wrapping up this unit and creating a fun book to keep to help us remember all we learned about Light, Sounds, and Heat Energy!

Keep Exploring,

Ms. Gillis

Check this blog out to learn about what is happening with 1st Grade in the S.T.R.E.A.M. Lab throughout the year.

Color Communication Game!

Fri, 04 May 2018 02:57:00 +0000

To put all our new knowledge about Lights and Sounds to the test we got to solve a problem: How Can We Communicate with Someone long distance without using our voices? We decided to use colors that would represent different moves such as: Spin, Twirl, Dance, Sit down, Jump, Hop, Run in Place, Give a Hug, Dab, and many more! We were very creative. Take a look!

Our Warm Up:

Creating Our Own Game:

Then, it was our turn in the Maker's Space! We came up with 4 different signals to use with our partner to help us build a structure without using ANY sounds! It was difficult at first but we got the hang of it pretty quickly.

Now that we are wrapping up our unit on Light, Sounds, and Communication, we are going to start to study animals and offspring again, this time becoming researchers and using technology to create an Explain Everything Exploration!

Keep Exploring,

Ms. Gillis

Check this blog out to learn about what is happening with 1st Grade in the S.T.R.E.A.M. Lab throughout the year.

Can You Match the Sound?

Mon, 30 Apr 2018 17:04:00 +0000

This week we put our ears to the test as we played a fun game rediscovering the world of SOUNDS! Ms. Gillis put different items in to cups for each student to have their own. Students had to listen to the sound their cups made, without being able to see the item, and try to find the person who had the same item in their cup, all by listening to the sounds! Students knew that only one other student had the same item as them, so they explored and had to listen to all the sounds, collaborate, and come to an agreement if their cups were a match!

and

We loved this activity and getting to explore our senses. Next up, we will use all our new knowledge about lights and sound to see if we can solve a problem: Communicating with someone long distance, without using a telephone and without being able to hear them talk! Let's see if we can put on our Engineering hats and figure this one out!

Keep Exploring,

Ms. Gillis

Check this blog out to learn about what is happening with 1st Grade in the S.T.R.E.A.M. Lab throughout the year.

Transparent, Translucent, and Opaque: When to use each!

Mon, 23 Apr 2018 18:18:00 +0000

For this experiment, each group was put to the test to discover and decide what category each material belonged to! First, we got a bag full of materials to share with our table. We started out by putting the materials in to the correct category. They were either: Transparent, Translucent, or Opaque. Then, we had a class discussion to test the material and see if we were correct! We had a lot fun using cooperation and collaboration to be successful with this experiment.

Then we had a great discussion about when to use each. Students determined that if we wanted to let light in, the plastic wrap or sheet projector was our best bet out of the materials we had! Then, we decided that if we want to let light in, but make sure people can't see in, we could use bubble wrap to solve our problem. Last, if we wanted to make sure NO light came in we decided to use the construction paper or the paper bag for the best results. We love getting to explore the world around us!

Keep Exploring,

Ms. Gillis

Check this blog out to learn about what is happening with 1st Grade in the S.T.R.E.A.M. Lab throughout the year.

Jump back in to the S.T.R.E.A.M.!

Fri, 13 Apr 2018 04:46:00 +0000

As we returned to the S.T.R.E.A.M. Lab after Spring Break we jumped in to the world of Light! We have been discussing Light Energy and how light can only be seen with the eye! It can't be felt (what we feel is heat coming off of the energy, we don't feel the light itself), we can't smell it, and we can't touch it. We explored this idea by trying to discover if we can see in the dark! We realized we can't see without light. We know some animals have adapted and developed traits that help them see at night though (from our Animal Traits unit!). We love connecting what we have learned with what we are exploring!

We also learned we can classify Light in to 3 different categories: Transparent, Translucent, and Opaque!

We discovered that TRANSPARENT means ALL light passes through.

We discovered that TRANSLUCENT means SOME light passes through.

and finally...

We discovered that OPAQUE means NO light passes through.

Then, we got to create our own version of Stain Glass Windows using Tissue Paper and Glad Press N' Seal. Take a look:

and

Keep Exploring,

Ms. Gillis

Check this blog out to learn about what is happening with 1st Grade in the S.T.R.E.A.M. Lab throughout the year.

Have A Great Spring Break!

Fri, 23 Mar 2018 16:42:00 +0000

Since our Parent/Teacher Conference Week is next week, we will not have any more Enrichment Wheels until we return from Spring Break!

Stay Safe and Keep Exploring!

Ms. Gillis

Building our Instruments!

Mon, 12 Mar 2018 21:27:00 +0000

Now that we are learning all about Sound and Vibrations, it is time to put that new knowledge to the test by building our own Instruments! First, every student got their own piece of string to explore and see what sounds they could create through vibrations!

We came up with some very creative ideas like: rubbing the string along another piece of string, the table, the chair, and more! We also found that we could hold one end of the string under our foot, and pluck it like a guitar string!

Next, Ms. Gillis showed us how to make "Head Harps". We tied the string together, put it on our head and pulled the string tight with our finger (not tight around our heads), then we plucked the string with our fingers! It was so fun to make the sounds by making the vibrations!

Keep Exploring,

Ms. Gillis

Check this blog out to learn about what is happening with 1st Grade in the S.T.R.E.A.M. Lab throughout the year.

Vibrations and Sounds all Around Us!

Mon, 05 Mar 2018 18:52:00 +0000

After putting the finishing touches on our Treasure Boxes, we got to dive in to the world of Vibrations and Sounds! Ms. Gillis started by having us think and observe the world around us, and start to think about all the amazing sounds we hear. We had no idea there are so many! We talked about how some sounds are low, and some sounds are high! We even got to hear how some SOUND EFFECTS are made in movies and cartoon! It was so cool!

Then, we got to work together as a class to recreate the sound of this thunderstorm! It was a lot of fun only using our hands and feet to make so much noise!

Then came time to learn about vibrations! We got to see how vibrations are movements that make sound. We took a ruler and held it off the edge of our tables, then gently pushed down on the edge of the ruler to create a "boing" sound. It was so fun to create the sound effects!

We can't wait to explore more and start to build our own instruments to make our own unique sound!

Keep Exploring,

Ms. Gillis

Check this blog out to learn about what is happening with Kindergarten in the S.T.R.E.A.M. Lab throughout the year.

Using Animal Traits to Protect our Treasures

Fri, 23 Feb 2018 20:02:00 +0000

Our First Graders have been having so much fun learning about Animal Traits! Not only have we learned about what traits are, we have learned how they are inherited and we have been exploring the "Why?" behind each trait!

Now we get to put our new knowledge to a fun test by making our own TREASURE BOX and covering it with different traits animals use to protect themselves! For instance, we have learned how plants like cacti and animals like porcupines and hedgehogs use spikes to protect themselves. We have explored animals who have sharp teeth or claws, animals who have bad smells to scare away predators or big horns, and more! Students are picking all different traits to protect their Treasure Box with! What animal traits would you like to use to protect your treasures?

Keep Exploring,

Ms. Gillis

Check this blog out to learn about what is happening with Kindergarten in the S.T.R.E.A.M. Lab throughout the year.

Nature: The Natural Engineer!

Wed, 14 Feb 2018 22:44:00 +0000

As we are learning all about Animal Traits, we are starting to see how human beings have observed the world around them, and have created many amazing things inspired by nature! We call the creation of tools and inventions based off something happening biologically (and in nature of course), BIOMIMICRY! We got to look at a ton of inventions like a plane, velcro, flying suits, flippers, and more, and decide what animal or plant inspired it!

Then, what better to do next then put on our Engineering hats and create a blueprint for our very own Biomimicry Invention based off an animal or plant trait we like! Here are some amazing examples of what our 1st graders came up with:

and

Next, we are planting seeds to see how different they look as they grow and change (a characteristic of all living things), and explore how the sunlight really affects them!

Keep Exploring,

Ms. Gillis

Check this blog out to learn about what is happening with 1st Grade in the S.T.R.E.A.M. Lab throughout the year.