6th Graders: Engineering/Construction of Simple Machines

Simple Machines are around us on a daily basis.  Some we don't even realize and most go unnoticed throughout our lifetime.  The sixth grade group is focusing in on incline planes and the use of gears during a construction unit.  Students must focus in on how the simple machine is used in everyday life and how it makes things easier for us.  The building/engineering part hasn't been easy for them, as each piece has to be carefully put in the exact location for the machines to work.  Some frustration has been had, but in the end learning has taken place.

Wind Powered Cars Taking Off

Some 5th grade students have had the opportunity to test, modify and re-test their projects while studying wind power.  The wind (box fan) was the only constant in this experiment and students had ample supplies to use.  They used different types of paper, lego pieces and tape to test their hypothesis to make a car travel twenty feet by only using wind power.  All students achieved the goal, yet each car looked VERY different.  Data was collect, studied and helped the students make decisions on future designs.  

The "Look" of Success!

Problem of the Week

Online Books for Everyone

www.mackinvia.com  is library at your fingertips.  Log-in to view thousands of books anywhere you have Internet access.

#1- Choose your School

#2- Username: 3105patrjrsr

#3- Password: craea267

Use your personal information to log-in:

~~~Username: last name, first initial

~~~Password: P(lunch number)0   example: P54320

Welcome Back

The 2018-19 School Year is off to a great start, perhaps it has something to do with this nice "fall" weather we had for a few days.  The kids have all started groups within the ELP program and they should be coming home with a note describing their programming for the next few months. It is always great to start a new year!

Summer Activities and Camps

Families, below you will find numerous camps and activities available this summer.  Each has its own unique schedule and opportunities to fit the interests that your child may have.  I hope this helps to keep your kids active and learning throughout the summer months.  

~ Todd Reed- ELP Instructor

CAMPS

Kirkwood STEM Camps (Cedar Rapids) https://www.kirkwood.edu/kick

STEAM Camps (Iowa City) http://www.thesteamroom.org/#!summer-camps/c1qv

Art Camps (Ceramics Center Cedar Rapids) http://www.theceramicscenter.org/summercamps/

Acting Camps (Cedar Rapids) http://www.theatrecr.org/education/

Acting Opportunities (Vinton) http://www.act1.org/

Reading/Math/Engineering Camps (Iowa City) http://www.willowwind.org/summer-program/

History Day Camps (Des Moines) http://www.lhf.org/en/programs__events/day_camps/summer_day_camp_2016/

Zoo Day Camps (Des Moines)  http://www.blankparkzoo.com/en/education/safari_camps/

Camp Invention (Waterloo) http://campinvention.org/about-us/

Chess Camp (Prairie Point Middle School, Cedar Rapids) www.chessiniowa.org/http://www.chessiniowa.org/chesscamp.

Belin Blank Programs and Classes for Students http://www2.education.uiowa.edu/belinblank/students/

Summer Camp for academically talented students http://crdiscoversummercamp.weebly.com/

Day Camps: Learn from Professionals and Artists http://www.summitschools.org/

Iowa State University Summer Programs http://www.opptag.iastate.edu/summer/index.php

Des Moines listings - https://desmoinesparent.com/des-moines-summer-camp-2018/

Pearson Lakes Art Center has arts classes: http://lakesart.org/

Dickinson County Nature Center also great Science camps: http://dickinsoncountyconservationboard.com/nature-center/

Okoboji Sailing Center has sailing lesson and STEM based camps: http://www.okobojisailingcenter.org/

TechKnow (Spencer, IA) has coding/3D printing/CAD classes: https://www.techknow.io/

https://www.212steamlabs.com/summer-camps/ A list of camps

Shenandoah hosts the Wabash Arts Camp July 30-August 3.  contact: careyk@shenandoah.k12.ia.us

6th Grade STATE Math Bee

Six students from the 6th grade qualified for the State Math Bee which was held today at the Central Rivers AEA in Cedar Falls, IA.  Kaiden Glaspie and JD Huffman qualified individually and the following team placed 4th overall in the Eastern Regional to get their invitation: Blake Gates, Ryan Goldenstein, Corbin Naylor and Carson Bantz.  All students will be competing individually and also as a team.  The students did a great job of representing West Elementary as students and as responsible young adults.  
The team of Carson, Blake, Corbin and Ryan finished in 5th place out of the entire state, quite an accomplishment!  Congratulations to all the kids and their hard work they displayed with this challenging competition.

GEOCACHING

www.mapsoftheworld.com

 With the nice weather students have been exploring the world of geocaching.  To sum Geocaching up, it is an outdoor activity that requires you to use a GPS to locate items around the world.  There are 1000's of these little treasures around the state alone.  It was a great opportunity for kids to use technology and learn how a GPS system works throughout the entire planet.  This activity originally required a special purchase of a GPS unit, but all of today's smart phones have a GPS receiver already in them, making this an activity that virtually costs nothing to do.  Science, technology, teamwork, and exercise all come together for an outdoor adventure seeking out those hidden treasures.  Much more information can be found online at www.geocaching.com.

Each Geolocation includes a
special item to look for

Almost...but not quite!