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!

The Beale Cipher: Final and Ultimate QUEST Code of the Year!

Our 4th and 5th graders have been conducting a whole-class research project on one of the most intriguing real-life buried treasure stories in history. If you except this final code-cracking challenge of the year, you'll have some work to do. First you'll need to learn the background story (but the videos below will make it fun and easy) and you'll probably get sent off in a few different directions before you even get to the actual code challenge.

Are you up for it? Bring all the thinking skills we've been developing in QUEST all year (critical, logical, creative and so on) and plenty of patience and persistence, too. Those who stick with this challenge and crack it will receive a special certificate of merit.

OK, then, let's start by building some background...

What is the story of the Beale Cipher?
This basic Wikipedia entry lays out the story.

Wait, the Declaration of Independence is part of this mystery?
Yep, and here is what you need to know about that. Just be patient--at the end of this clip they make the connection to the Beale Cipher:

OK, now they are talking about Edgar Allen Poe, the guy who wrote those really scary stories?
Exactly. Here is a clip that explains the Poe connection.

Oh, and to save you some time, here is a link to The Gold Bug.

So no one has cracked this yet?
Actually, there are a few treasure hunters who claim they've found the location of Beale's treasure. Use your critical thinking and decide if you think they are on to something.

In Philadelphia?

In New Orleans?

And now for your code challenge!
Don't worry, I'm not going to ask you to decipher letters 1 and 3 and bring me a piece of the treasure (although if you do find it a little token of thanks for telling you about it would be appreciated). Instead, I'd like you to watch the film below ABOUT the Beale Cipher and crack a code in it. It is said the film makers included 16 different codes/ciphers in this short movie, but there is one in particular I'd like you to crack. Throughout the movie you will notice several numbers appear with circles around them. These seem to be connected to a specific book or story, and are most likely the key to unlocking something important about the mystery within this movie. It will be hard work, but hard work brings the best rewards.

PARENT NOTE: The film does contain some MINOR language. It is nothing I wouldn't allow my own elementary age children to watch in context, but contact me if you have any doubts!

Your mission is to pay close attention to the circled numbers, figure out which book or text they are connected to, and crack the code!

Tangrams: Challenging Visual Problem Solving

Our 1st and 2nd graders are wrapping up a unit on visual-spatial reasoning with a lesson on tangrams--an ancient geometrical puzzle and storytelling tool comprised of 7 pieces. The video below introduces their origin.



OK, so that's not the actual origin of trangrams, but it is an excellent introduction. In class we manipulated physical tangrams, but there are some nice websites with tangram activities too:
Matter - Online Tangram Puzzles
PBS Kids - Sagwa Tangram Games

Think a 7-piece puzzle sounds too easy? Think again!

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

****

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.

****

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.

Chasing Vermeer Activities

Our 4th graders have been working through the intriguing novel Chasing Vermeer, which is full of unexplained occurences, art history, codes, mystery and a special geometrical problem solving tool called pentominoes. The site below contains several online activities related to the novel which will keep their brains busy on the novel and its intricate pieces even while not in QUEST.

Chasing Vermeer Online Activities

Build Verbal Reasoning Skills with Quiddler

I recently posted a link to an excellent online "game" for building non verbal reasoning skills called SET. The same game publishers also have a superb game for building verbal reasoning and fluency called Quiddler. The game sounds simple--build 3 and 4-letter words with available cards to earn points. In practice, though, it's a lot more challenging. In fact, I highly recommend having a dictionary handy!


Just as with SET, there is an online Quiddler puzzle that refreshes daily. The site also includes a printable "worksheet" version of each daily puzzle.

Build Non Verbal Reasoning Skills with "SET"

I am asked quite often by parents what they can do to help students build non verbal reasoning skills, such as those tested on the CogAT. One of the most powerful ways to exercise the "thinking muscle" involved in non verbal analysis and logic is a game called "SET." SET inolves using attributes (another key concept of the QUEST curriculum) to sort cards into groups ("sets") of 3 cards.

The rules of what makes up a set are both extremely simple and very intricate and subtle. The good news is we've been playing it as a warm-up exercise in class recently so your child should know! And even better news, your child (and you) can get a free non verbal workout everyday on the SET Daily Puzzle website. Each day they refresh the page with a new SET challenge.

I HIGHLY recommend encouraging your child to visit it regularly to build up those dendrites and synaptic connections involved in complex non verbal logic and reasoning.

P.S. I'll also include a permanent link to the SET Daily Puzzle on the Games and Stimulation page of the website.

Thunk.com Code-breaking Challenge

OK, technically we will be dealing with a "cipher" rather than a code here, and our 4th and 5th graders should be able to tell you the precise difference. Here is what you need to do:

1. Select the enciphered message below.
2. Copy it.
3. Go to the website http://www.thunk.com
4. Paste the message into the message box and click Unscramble.
5. Follow the directions in the deciphered message and that is how I'll know you've cracked it!

Panrc jfax! Vo lfd ran anruvep cqvb lfd qrin untvgqnanu cqn znbbrpn. Efj unycn cqvb znbbrpn reu clgn ve lfda erzn, btqffy reu parun reu cqne tyvtx "Btarzsyn." Tfgl lfda btarzsynu znbbrpn vecf r tfzznec fe cqn syfp gfbc. Cqrc'b qfj V'yy xefj lfd uvu vc!(thunk.com)

Brad Meltzer's Decoded: Stimulating T.V.

A History Channel series very relevant to our QUEST theme this year is Brad Meltzer's Decoded. Meltzer is a mainstream author of fiction who is especially interested in chapters of history that have to do with secret, hidden information and, above all, codes.

Not all episodes are directly related to codes, and some present alternative theories that may ruffle feathers, but I've never seen an episode that would be inappropriate for young viewers for any reason.

Get some more background and information on the show's homepage.

And I've just posted two complete episodes (both with code themes!) on the "Videos" page of this blog.

Enjoy!