Following the Engineering Design Process to Clean Up an Oil Spill

Our Earth Systems Unit culminated this week with students following the 'Engineering Design Process' to engineer a solution to 'cleaning up an oil spill'. Students connected what they have learned about ecosystems, materials and tools to help them design a process to clean an oil spill so that it had the least impact on an ecosystem.

...and a few pictures from a Friday Theme/Team time in late January. Beautiful bluebird day to play 'Stones'.

Ecosystem Web

Building our ecosystem web.

mindful breathing

Be sure to ask your child tonight about the mindful breathing activity they were taught by Ms. Stoner and some of their classmates today.

Rubik's Cube Fun

Today, we watched a great video called 'How the Inventor of the Rubix Cube Cracked His Own Code'. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_-QxnzK4gM

The inventor emphasized the importance of 'never giving up'. Students worked to crack the code themselves. Be sure to ask your child about playtime with the Rubik's Cube.

Guest Speaker from Smuggler's Notch

Today, Dan Maxon who is responsible for permits and energy use at Smuggler's Notch came in to talk to us about water use and the snowmaking process. Be sure to ask your child how many gallons of water Smugg's uses in one year fro snowmaking.

Building Models of Volume Units

Earlier this week, students wrapped up our geometry and measurement unit by building models of volume units.

ECHO and Abenaki Artifacts

On Thursday, Team Couloir students visited ECHO in Burlington. At ECHO,  groups took different 'treks' and explored Native American artifacts to illuminate the sophistication of pre-1800’s Abenaki life. Students also learned how to interpret historical objects in order to better understand traditional ways of life. Thank you to our chaperones Kim Donovan, Dan Weigel, Kim Rubin, Kathleen Brinegar, and Gina Zabilansky  for their support.