Fall Noetic Math Winners

 

The Noetic Math Challenge is a challenge the top students from West Elementary take part in two times a year.  This challenge is open for students all across the country.  This year over 31,000 of the top math students from over 600 schools and 42 states took part in this challenge.  Student have 45 minutes to complete twenty problems at and above their grade level.  West Elementary had 26 students place in the top 50% of all students!!!  Clayton was also given the prestigious award of "National Honor Roll" placing him in the top 10% of all students in the country.  Clayton, Lincoln and Kendall were the West Elementary Class Champions for 4th/5th/6th grades.  Congrats to all the students that accepted this challenge and worked their hardest!

4th Graders "Take-Off" on the Train 3D Print

 Students in the 4th grade were tasked to create a train car using Tinkercad as their 3D modeling tool.  This online program is free for anyone wanting to learn 3D modeling, CAD in the real world.  Their imaginations and research led them to creating some interesting cars, all made under the same specifications to fit together.

Well done students!

www.tinkercad.com

Engineers at Work

 Students have been creating projects using different engineering skills lately.  Pulleys, levers and fulcrum points have all been used to demonstrate these basic engineering concepts.  Students were able to complete tasks individually and in partnerships.

Coding with Robots

A popular unit of coding has been underway for quite some time now.  Fifth grade students have been using kits and block coding to create some spectacular robots and machines.  Each team of students had to design similar projects to get started, but once that was complete the creativity took over.  Students designed many different machines, all controlled by their code using their ChromeBooks.

 

Take a look at this problem

 

Math Problem Solvers

Over 40 students at West Elementary have been studying different techniques to solve math and real live problems.  They have been doing a fantastic job of sharing strategies and conquering problems!

Engineers at Work!

I am always amazed what these thoughtful students can create in such a limited amount of time.  Just look at the detail of these recent "building" projects!

Creative Writing is a HIT

 Many students love to write creatively in our district, some were recognized for the extremely talented works lately.  Awesome job students, what a great life-long skill you are mastering!

Engineers at work!

 

The year always finishes up with some engineering groups in ELP.  These groups do a multitude of activities, some are planned out, some have to follow "blue prints", while others are creatively thought of by the students.  After some general planning and drawing the students get to build as they desire.  So many different ideas come out of this unit, even when given the same directions.  They had a great time...as did I seeing these projects come to life.

HAVE A GREAT SUMMER STUDENTS!

Spring Noetic MATH Winners

 

Each Fall and Spring students from all over the country participate in the Noetic Math Challenge Test.  Students at West Elementary accepted this challenge and we had a lot of great test scores.  Over 39,000 students from 43 different states took part in the spring challenge.  Ernesto, Miles, Aubree and Memphis were the class winners.  Miles test score was high enough to earn him the National Honor Roll Medal, placing him in the top 10% of ALL 5th Graders in the country.  Great job students, keep up the high level learning attitude!

2024 AEA Central Rivers Math Bee

The annual AEA Central Rivers Math Bee took place on May 7th.  Sixth Grade students, Weslan, Memphis, Aubree and Rachel took part in this competition that saw 40 teams represented and almost 200 total students.  The students work on five different groups of mathematical problems under short time constraints.  The five subject areas include: Number System, Expressions and Equations, Geometry, Statistics and Probability, and Ratios and Proportions.  Each team member takes these test on their own to add to the team score.  Students also work as a team to answer the "Team Work" portion of the event to add the final points to their cumulative total.  West Elementary students have consistently done well at this event, and these students continued that tradition.  These students ended up 3rd Place overall out of 40 teams!  A huge congratulations to the students and their teachers for pushing kids to not only learning the standard curriculum, but going above and beyond to maximize their potential!  Well done STUDENTS!!!

 

Eastern Iowa Poetry Awards

 

The Eastern Iowa Reading Council Creative Writing Contests have been judged for the 2023/24 school year.  Two different Mustangs were winners at their respected grade levels this year.  Matthew at Grade 9, and Kendall at grade 5.  Great work kids, proud of your vast knowledge of many different abilities, including your creativity!

Iowa State University WISE Conference

 A few 8th grade students were able to attend the ISU WISE Conference once again this year.  WISE stands for Women In Science and Engineering.  It is a campus group that comes together to accomplish many great things throughout the lives of women while attending school at ISU.  This amazing conference gives young girls a chance to work with students and professors at ISU in science and engineering fields.  It is an awesome experience, and day of learning for these young girls.  

3D Printed Trains

 Kids started with a sketch on some graph paper and ended up with wonderful 3D models of train cars.  Great job using the TINKERCAD program for your final projects kids!!!

Final Report of Learning

 Students have been testing hypothesis in the past months.  The conclusion to each challenge is the final report.  This is a culmination of all their thoughts, data and drawings of their project.  They always seem to amaze me how well they can work through problems and show their progress.  WELL DONE KIDS!

Wind Powered Cars

 5th Grade students have been learning about the power of wind using the Scientific Method.  Many different designs were built, however only a few made the goal of 180 inches.  The students were able to try different types of cars, learn from their tests and then create new models to improve their distance.  It was a lot of seeing these kids test their models, learn from mistakes and in the end complete their goal.

3D Computer Aided Drafting (CAD) and printing in full swing for Elementary Students

 Students are tasked with a variety of designs, determined by the level of understanding they have.  They begin with a drawing on graph paper and then turn to TINKERCAD, an online CAD program so they can design in real 3D.  The design is then printed by the MakerBot printer.  It is fascinating what they can come up with!

Master Math Students

 The annual NOETIC Math Challenge for the winter semester is complete and we once again had a great group of math students participate.  Here are your grade level champions: Memphis (also National Honor Award), Aiden, Jacob and Miles.