Bridge Construction Challenge Combines Science, Geometry and Creativity

Our end-of-year ZomeTool challenges have become one of the most anticipated "traditions" and this year I wanted to push the students to integrate some specific engineering principles into their always creative designs. Their challenge was to design and create a bridge that got vehicles across a river and kept them "7 inches" above the water surface.

In addition, the bridges were tested for stability (a.k.a. "earthquake tested"), strength and beauty.

Before constructing, we explored the reason why triangles are the strongest shape to use in a structure and got some tips from an engineer on a how a baseball player's wide batting stance is an excellent model for earthquake-proofing bridges.

Although 4th and 5th graders completed the challenge as well, I've decided to share the 3rd grade projects here. We have some future architects!

Myers-Briggs Super Hero Projects

Perhaps you've had a chance to explore the Voki which describes each dimension of the Myers-Briggs personality assessment that our 4th and 5th graders took. One way we used the data and insight about our personalities was to develop a "Super Hero" with super traits based on our personality profiles. Before we got too carried away though, we also had to analyze our profiles for possible weaknesses, and imagine those onto our alter egos as well (hey, even Superman has kryptonite!)

These are up in the room at both campuses, and you'll get to see them when they come home with most of our work toward the end of the year. One of our most popular heroes has been "Neona" from Hannah at Isbell (an "INTP"). Next time I'm in trouble, I hope she's nearby!

The Puzzling World of Winston Breen: Student Book Reviews

Our 5th graders have been working through the first Winston Breen novel as a way of connecting our work on codes and ciphers with literature. One of the project options was to create a book review. Elizabeth, Shobha and Michelle from Isbell prepared the first review below, and it is following by a review from Kathryn, also from Isbell.

You can learn more about this book at http://www.winstonbreen.com

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by Elizabeth, Shobha and Michelle

Winston Breen is a boy who loves creating and solving puzzles. He buys a jewelry box at Penrose’s store of random things for his sister’s birthday. When his sister reveals a hidden compartment, a mystery arises involving four baffling wooden strips (with letters on them), a librarian, two strange men- and don’t forget, Winston and his sister, Katie. They go on an adventure to find the hidden treasure that the mysterious strips tell of. Will they find the concealed treasure, or will they fall into the depths of the unsolved mystery?

    

I liked Winston Breen because it involves adventure, a mystery and many puzzles as well. Winston Breen is an enjoyable book, but remember, if you get stuck on one of the puzzles there are answers in the back of the book. If you can help it, try not to look at the answers, use your brain. The mysteriousness of Winston Breen is intriguing. If you have read this book before… Good for you!!!! Keep in mind that The Puzzling world of Winston Breen is a cool book; try to solve all the puzzles too!

I recommend this book to a quieter individual who likes a mystery. To get full pleasure out of this book you should have constant time to read and solve puzzles instead of only 2 hours a week. You can still read this if you have minimal time; it is just not as enjoyable. Winston Breen is a very good book for middle schoolers. I also propose this novel to advanced readers in GT, Quest, LEAP, Pace, or AIM. If you like this book, I advise you read the sequel, “Potato Chip Puzzles”. I adore Winston and hope you do to.

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By Kathryn

The puzzling world of Winston Breen is a novel that starts with an innocent present that spirals in to a full blown treasure hunt with backstabbing and double crossing. As Winston pieces together the puzzle he finds he can trust.

    I believe this book has amazing puzzles and a twisted plot. Though I lost interest in the beginning but it somewhat sets the story up. Overall an amazing story with good content.

    I recommend this book to anyone with a love of puzzles because the plot is based on the puzzles.

Navajo Codetalker Update: In Memory of Keith Little

Some sad news reached us at the end of last week. Keith Little, one of the last surviving Navajo Codetalkers from WWII and a champion of preserving their memory, passed away in Arizona. In an NPR remembrance, Little tells about being sent to a boarding school as a child and being punished for speaking Navajo. Just a few years later, however, he joined the Marines and was asked to use Navajo to develop a secret code to help defeat the Japanese in the Pacific.

As you know, our 4th and 5th graders did a research unit on the codetalkers which culminated in the students writing letters to one of four codetalkers. Mr. Little was one of them. We mailed the letters off in October, but they were destined for rural Arizona, where most of them live. We have no way of knowing whether our letters reached Mr. Little, but we can hope that if they did, he felt satisfaction that enthusiasm and curiosity for the part his unique group of comrades played in history lives on.

Santa's Got a Brand New Sleigh: Our QUEST "ZOME" Challenge

"ZOME" is a very versatile construction kit/system that we love to use for specialized design and construction problem-solving challenges. This week, most of our 3rd, 4th and 5th graders participated in a very season-appropriate challenge. : )

Here's how it was presented:

Santa has been riding the same-old sleigh for years and years, but he’s decided it’s time for an upgrade! He needs a sleigh that will last for the next 100 years, so he wants the brightest young minds of the next century—you—to help him design it.

Here’s your job: use the ZOME construction pieces to create a model of Santa’s new sleigh. Plan and build carefully, though, because your sleigh will be judged and scored on the following criteria:

·    Name (10 pts)Give your sleigh a catchy, original name.

·    Stability (20 pts)Santa’s sleigh has been known to bump into chimneys and rooftops and even crash into trees now and then. Your sleigh should be able to handle some basic bumps and thumps. Mr. Koch will “bump test” it.

·    Strength (??? Pts)Santa piles a lot of toys onto his sleigh. The new design has to handle a lot of weight. Mr. Koch will test the strength with a bucket of gram weights. You’ll get a point for every gram it can handle without bending or breaking.

·    Aerodynamics (15 pts)Santa has a lot of ground to cover and speed is of the essence. Your design should make it easy to go fast through the air.

•   Holiday Flair (10 pts)It is Santa’s ride, after all, so it should have some flavor    of the holidays.

And this is how they used ingenuity, creativity and design to meet the challenge:

"HO-licopter"

"Santa's Ornament Airplane"

"NYAN Cat"

"Toy Tanker"

"Snowflake Truck"

"Snowflake Sleigh"

"Dynamic Deliverer"

"Eve XL"

"S.S. Power"

"Santa's Savior Sleigh"

"S.S. Santa"

"Gift Giver 2000"

"Santa Bear's Jingle Bell Sleigh"

"Faster Caster 3000"

"Death Sleigh of Awesomeness"

"Present Box 2000"

"Candy Cane Coach"

"Snowball Sleigh"

"The HO-HO Hoboes"



"Hanukkah Sleigh"



"The Jingle Wringle"

"Oh, Christmas Tree"

"Pokesleigh"




"Dasher 64"




"Rocket Sleigh 44"




"Jingle Sledder"



The Eleventh Hour: When Persistence Pays Off!

Since I began working with gifted students many years ago--first as a classroom cluster teacher and now as a GT Facilitator--I have been very aware of a particular character trait which is under-developed in our brightest students: PERSISTENCE! Since so many things come easy for them, they aren't accustomed to that threshold of discomfort when some "blood, sweat and tears" might be required in order to succeed.

So when our 3rd, 4th and 5th graders began our unit on The Eleventh Hour, a very elaborate but also laborious and detail-oriented problem-solving mystery, I have to confess I was a bit skeptical about how reliable their attention spans would be in sticking it out to the end. Would interest quickly peter out when they realized it was going to take some patience, guts, ingenuity and plain-old hard work to get through it and find a solution?

I am pleased to say the students proved my skepticism completely wrong! The Eleventh Hour turned out to be one of the most engaging and successful inter-disciplinary units I've ever facilitated. Kids were revved up until the very end, always eager from the moment I got them to the "closing bell" of our sessions. And this was hard stuff, folks! Here is just a sampling of the higher-level thinking skills the students were practicing as they engaged with the story and the mystery:

• deductive reasoning
• inductive reasoning
• logic
• analytical thinking
• visualization
• vocabulary-building (context clues)
• inference
• reading comprehension
• oral fluency

Students use a cipher wheel to crack the final code
in The Eleventh Hour

The list could really go on. I just wanted to make this unusually wordy post to congratulate the students on a beautiful and inspiring job. They followed it through all the way to the end, and the few weeks we've invested in it were more than worth it.

I know some of you have already gone out and purchased the book for home. I think it is money well spent. Students have been asking if there are other similar books. The author, Graeme Base, has also published Animalia, which is said to have a very similar feel. Worth checking out! Might help turn some of those long, video game-heavy days of holiday break into some productive brain and character building! : )

"The Eleventh Hour" by Graeme Base: A Code Breaker's Dream!

We have been tackling a mystery that is putting a lot of our skills to the test! We are applying all our observation and deductve powers, as well as our growing toolbox of code breaking and deciphering skills to crack the mystery of Horace the Elephant's birthday feast in The Eleventh Hour: A Curious Mystery by Graeme Base. Third graders got a head start this week but next week our 4th and 5th graders will see if they can get to the truth as impressively as their underclassmen have been.

Here's a little teaser-trailer to give you a taste:

Christie Hinky Pinky Book Released!

Announcing the "publication" of the next two Hinky Pinky books from the wonderful minds of Christie GT students:

• What is a Hink Pink? (4th)
• From Hink Pink to Hinkety Pinkety (5th)

Christie "Hinky Pinky" books now available in the library!

Here's a little sampling of the mind-boggling riddles in these two volumes:

     What is a hink pink for a dustbin you put money in?

     Answer: "Cash Trash" (Neerul)
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     What is a hinky pinky for a crying Barbie?

     Answer: "A bawly dolly" (Logan)
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     What is a hinky pinky for a non-agreeing cat?

     Answer: "A decline feline" (Jackie)
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     What is a hinky pinky for a magician who cut a kid in half?

     Answer: "Tragic magic" (Allie)
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     What is a hinky pinky for a betting dog?

     Answer: "Bingo dingo" (Joaquin)

Isbell Hinky Pinky Books Now "Published"!

The 4th and 5th grade Hinky Pinky books have been bound and "published" to the Isbell library! (Christie Editions coming very soon!)

Rush Hour Riddles (4th Grade) and Epic Hinky Pinkies (5th Grade) will be available for viewing within the library. To preserve these very limited edition publications, we can't allow them to be checked out, but we hope that doesn't stop you from coming in to have a look!

Here's a little sampling of what you'll find...

"What do you call a hinkety pinkety for a love note for a monster?"

"A Frankenstein Valentine." (by Megan)
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"What do you call a group of mouse friends who play hockey?"

"Ice mice." (by Karthik)
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"What do you call a hink pink for a fat crustacean?"

"A flab crab." (by Christian)
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"What do you call a hinkety pinkety for what the forefathers did when they messed up?"

"Constitute troubleshoot." (by Josh)