2nd Annual Maury Think Tank and Science Expo in Pictures: PART I

Future DC Beekeepers? I think so!

THANK YOU to the over 200 people who came out from the Maury community and surrounding DC schools to support the 2nd Annual Maury Elementary Think Tank and Science Expo! While not all are accounted for on the sign-in sheet below, I love that most kids wrote ( or tried to write!) their own names upon entering. Look at all those thinkers!

We had so many wonderful organizations volunteer at our event and share their expertise. Organizations included: Living Classrooms, DDoE and Junior Duck Stamp Program, National Capitol Astronomers, DC Beekeepers, District Crossfit, Labyrinth Puzzles and Games, The Anacostia Watershed Society, DC Water (featuring Wendy the Waterdrop!), Casey Trees , Engineering is Elementary,  The National Science Foundation and GLOBE program, The National Science Teacher's Association, The Optical Society of America,  Physiotherapy Associates: Capitol Hill. In addition, a special thank Hyde-Addision Science teacher Kelly Meschari for sharing the event with her school community and Suzanne Wells for publisizing through the Capitol Hill Public School Parent's Associaton. Because of both of these collaborative efforts, we had families represented from schools all over the District!

Shirt says it all! Toni Burnham from DC Beekeepers!

Upon entering the Expo, visitors recieved the following floor plan. This helped guide them to each of the amazing activities available and they could check off as they went. Not only does this help for those of us who need a little organization to see everything, but it adds a "professional" feel to the event making students feel as if they are visiting a fascinating conference!

 

The best way to speak to the learning, thinking and FUN that was had by all is to share pictures from our resident volunteer photographer, Elizabeth Nelson. Interestingly, I  emailed families today in hopes that many others took pictures I could share. All respondents noted something to effect of " I took this one picture but then we got so into the expo that I forgot to take more!". While that leaves us with fewer pictures, I think it is a testament to the purpose of the evening-- to Learn, Play and Think WITH your child!  That being said, I'm still waiting to see if anyone has pictures from some of our stations including the AMAZING laser show and DC Water with Wendy the Water Drop!

So here are the wonderful pictures we do have, in no particular order. Enjoy!

Looking at the Moon with National Capitol Astronmomer Guy. F. Brandenburg

Jay Miller prepares his station for the thinkers about to descend!

Maury Mom, Jessica Robin and National Science Foundation/GLOBE program representative prepares her station with lots of swag!

Living Classrooms had so many hands on activities for kids to complete including bridge structures!

DDeO and Junior Duck Stamp Program set up for the masses! They had make- your-own bird feeders!

Even teachers waited to see Jupiter in the clear ( COLD!) night sky!

Toby Ratcliff from NSWC and partnering with Engineering is Elementary speaks with Maury parent while a PreK student tests submersibles. Does it float or sink??

Owner of Labyrinth Puzzles and Games, Kathleen Donahue, explains one of her great games to students and a station volunteer. I'm even there in the background wrangling in another volunteer!

Who knew it was so hard to make straw bridges? These great thinkers were not deterred!

Maury 3rd Grader learns from experts at Living Classrooms.

Swag? YES PLEASE!

The line develops behind the "Pink Candy Scope" which had a perfect shot of Jupiter!

Parents get in on the amazing sight ( and then go back to volunteering ushering folks to and from the location!)

Can you suspend 6 nails from the head of one? This PreK student used his picture and math smarts to do just that! (And just look at that huge bag of goodies collected at all the other stations!)

Leaf rubbings with Casey Trees!

Perplexus! A favorite. This game is great for strengthening the Habits of Mind dispostion PERSIST!

Community members and students from surrounding schools get in on the action!

Explaining the NASA symbol

John McLaughlin from the GLOBE program leads students of all ages in creating their own clouds.

Engineering is Elementary station testing out ocean submersibles. Maury is thrilled to be a pilot school for this program over the next two years!

Chris Lemieux from the Anacostia Watershed Society chats with Lisa Goode from the Office of Early Childhood Education at DCPS

Day or Night? A great game for strengthening spatial sense for young children!

Students and Families made names tags that had a picture of their best "SMART" on it for all to see!

Games for all ages from Labyrinth.

Judy Thomas, staff person from Labyrinth teachers a game to 1st grader.

District Crossfit teachers about the science behind physical fitness!

Working together at Kataminos

Origami with parent and origami expert ( and Maury mom) Naomi Griffin. Ms. Sweeney helped here too!

Straw Bridges bring in more dedicated builders. Do you see anyone starting to use a special "strong" shape?

Learning to make bird feed with DDoE. Can you see DC Water's Wendy the Waterdrop in the background??

Jessica Robin engages young learners!

The National Science Foundation and GLOBE were extremely popular stations!

Hands on lerning with Living Classrooms

Dressed in beekeeper gear working with a real hive!

Labyrinth Game stations were always busy

Look at the balance!

Q-B-MAZE!

District Crossfit workout!

Keep it up! Notice the parent AND student leading the session! Fitness can be a family affair!

Learning about trees with Casey Trees!

"Wendy theWater Drop" joined us! She is the mascot of DC Water! If you haven't checked out DC Water's amazing video " A Drop's Life" go here to see it!

Look at that concentration!

Closely examining some goodies!

Principal Albert-Garvey welcomes families with parent volunteers at the event Welcome Table!

More beekeeping!

I'm not sure it's possible for  to love my job more than I already do, but seeing the turnout and community support for events like this make my teacher heart grow! Thanks to all and stay tuned for even more pictures as they come in.

Happy Thinking!
- Mrs. Ford

We are " A World in Motion" at Maury!

 Last year we received a large grant from the GM Foundation for the Society of Automobile Engineer's "A World in Motion" curriculum and the time has come for student to become true engineers!

This program allows participate in the "Engineer Design Experience". The "Engineering Design Experience" for Primary students consists of: Set Goals, Build Knowledge, Design, Build and Test and Present.

 Each grade level from K -5 will participate in these engineering units during Think Tank class. The premise of each unit is that a (fictional) organization called EarthToy Designs Inc. has asked kids to test out toy prototypes and improve their performance. Students work in engineer teams or as a class to complete the challenges. For grades K-3, the challenges are also based on a literary text that is engaging and downright FUN!

(For those of you with PS or PK students, you may here them talking about "rolling things" and "crash and bash" as well! This is because I've adapted the the K/1 unit called "Rolling Things" to allow for Maury's youngest students to play with and explore concepts of motion. Stay tuned to the hallway display on the 1st floor for student work over the next two months as we delve into engineering!)

Students will be practicing quite a few Habits of Mind during this unit and using ALL 8 of their Intelligences! Specifically, students will focus on the following Habits of Mind: Persisting, Questioning and Posing Questions,Thinking Interdependently and Creating,Imagining and Innovating

For now, take a look at the great units that we are starting! Science concepts are highlighted in purple.
                                     K and 1: Rolling Things!

In the Rolling Things Challenge, students explore how changing the ramp height and vehicle weight affect the momentum of toy cars.  Concepts covered in this unit include gravity, potential and kinetic energy, friction, momentum, mass, velocity and acceleration.
                              
                 2nd:  ENGINEERING INSPIRED BY NATURE

In the Engineering Inspired By Nature challenge, students investigate seeds that are dispersed by the wind. They apply what they have learned to make paper helicopters and parachutes. They test different variables (lengths, width, weight, etc.) to see how these factors affect performance. Concepts covered in this unit include gravity, drag, friction, velocity and acceleration.
                                                     
                                                  3rd: STRAW ROCKETS

                                                                  

In the Straw Rockets challenge, students explore the early life of Dr. Robert Goddard while reading the biography, The Rocket Age Takes Off. After investigating Goddard's early trial, students build, test and modify rockets made from drinking straws. They test the rockets to see how far they can fly. Concepts covered in this unit include Newton's Laws of Motion, Gravity, thrust, lift and drag.

                                                           

                                                             4th: SMIMMER

                                                      

Students construct paper sailboats and test the effect of different sail shapes, sizes, and construction methods to meet specific performance criteria. Friction, forces, the effect of surface area and design are some of the physical phenomena students encounter in this challenge.

                                                             5th: JET TOY
 

Students make balloon-powered toy cars that meet specific performance criteria like; travels far, carries weight, or goes fast. Jet propulsion, friction, air resistance and design are the core scientific concepts students explore in this challenge.

                                PLEASE JOIN US!            
    2^nd ANNUAL THINK TANK AND SCIENCE EXPO
                               COME LEARN, PLAY AND THINK WITH YOUR CHILD!

WHEN: January 24, 2012 from 6:00-7:30pm                      

WHERE: Maury Elementary Multi-Purpose Room and grounds ( 1250 Constitution Ave. NE)

WHAT: This year you will find some of last year’s favorite stations, as well as new ones! You will be able to…

·       Construct ramps, balance objects, fold origami and identify your own Multiple Intelligences!

·       Play with light, lasers and sound and observe the night sky with real telescopes!

·       Play lots of games from the Think Tank Lending Library and Labyrinth Puzzles and Games!

·       Try out CrossFit and learn about the science behind health and fitness!

·       Meet “ Wendy the Waterdrop ”, mascot of DC Water!

·       Win fun prizes just for participating!

Visit with experts from the National Science Foundation, DC Department of the Environment, Living Classrooms, Anacostia Watershed Society, Casey Trees, DC Beekeeper Association, DC WASA, National Capital Astronomers, District CrossFit. Engineering is Elementary and more!