Cluster Tech Challenge

We recently had our cluster technology challenge. Our class and Room 5 at Bamford School took part.

The idea was that we would be undertaking the same challenges from our own schools, but would key an eye out (digitally) about how the other teams were doing.

The first challenge was to build a free-standing tower using certain materials that could raise a flag.

The second challenge was a paper planes contest. Students could enter both a 'flight distance' and a 'flight time' competition.

These activities linked well with our Forces and Motion theme, so children were able to use some of the language and scientific terms we have been learning about.

Thanks to Wayne for coming along, giving a hand and showing us your own paper plane designs.



Check out the Linwood Connected Kids blog for some of our reflections and more info.

Land Yacht Racing

Today was the day that we lined up our land yachts for our final races.

As part of our syndicate inquiry rotation, children coming to Room 14 have been designing and building land yachts. For some of us, we were able to build on our knowledge from the kites we built in Term Two.

As with the kites, we researched forces on a land yacht, planned our designs, organised materials, constructed various prototypes, and tested them.

Check out some footage of our races today. A few crashes and swirling winds, but an enjoyable day celebrating what we've created.

Exploring Our Passions

Running alongside our syndicate inquiry rotation this term, our in-class focus has been centred around passions.

Last week we spent much of our time exploring how our passions can open up a world of possibilities and interests for us. We decided that when we are learning around our passions we often feel like we are not 'working' at all. This linked well with our recent understandings of how a 'Growth Mindset' is so important for us to possess if we are to develop to our full potential.

Our investigations into others' passions and where they have taken them was eye-opening. This video in particular stood out as an example of someone who has truly found what it is that motivates and excites them.

The next stage for us was to do some inward reflection and engage in open discussions about our interests. We've done this sort of thing right through our school lives, but this time our objective was to decide on a topic or area of interest that could provide a spark for us to begin an inquiry journey.

We grouped our passions into five broad topic areas. Each of these areas were given a 'conversation zone' around our classroom, a place where we could go to speak to others informally about our passions and look to potentially form smaller inquiry groups with like-minded people.

The process for project creation has required considerable scaffolding from Mr K, as the deep understandings from our theme this term need to be central to what we do. The enterprise, innovation and creativity aspect of this theme provides us with a huge scope for exploration. The big question we are considering is - 'How can I improve?'. Each of us have now developed a plan for a project that we will be working on, already outlining the research, design and initial creation aspects of what we are doing. Most of us are working in groups, although a couple of us have decided to pursue an independent project.

Over the course of the term we will be documenting what all of our groups are up to via Twitter, but here is a sneak peak at what a few of us have planned:

• Jessica and Lily are taking a out a small financial loan from our school Enterprise Group (which Lily is a part of). They have started in discussions with Barb, our school support worker, to begin contacting local food suppliers to put together a product (or products) that they could use for a whole-school lunch day that they are planning.
• Julie, Ellee, Chloe and Maia are using their individual strengths to design and create a school magazine, with some very exciting features, that they are planning to release fortnightly for the rest of the year.  

Failing Forward

Our main inquiry theme this term is called 'Innovation, Enterprise and Creativity'.

As well as investigating technological design and processes, we will also be making links between this theme and the traits that great learners possess. Many of the world's most successful entrepreneurs and creative individuals have failed many times before developing an idea or concept that positively changed their life and that of others. The fact that these people were able to pick themselves up in the face of adversity and find new possibilities may well have been their most powerful trait. Some people refer to this as 'failing-forward'.

Take a look at this clip about Alex Zanardi...


TOUCH THE SKY from tim hahne on Vimeo.

Can we pinpoint exactly what it was inside of him that made him find a new passion, even after being through an horrific accident? Why would he possibly be happier now?

Could this be a common theme with many successful people? How many other people can we find out about whose ability to fail-forward was a key part of their success? And finally... So what? What does this mean for us and what connections can we make?

Kites Inquiry - Part Three

Is it just a Christchurch thing that we won't get a lot of wind in Winter time?

We've only been able to get outside once or twice with suitable kite flying conditions. Most of us have finished our kites, but we just need to collect flight evidence and finish our documentation.

Despite some weather frustrations, it has been a great inquiry. We've learned a lot, not only about physical forces and change, but also about planning, managing and documenting a personal investigation.

Here's some footage we've collected so far. We'll post more media when we can...

Kites Inquiry - Part Two

Kites Inquiry - Part One

Technology Challenge: Aircraft

With our cricket team away and various other activities happening on Friday afternoon, a small group of us undertook a technology challenge.

The focus for this was around teamwork. Before we started, we discussed questions like, "What happens if you have different ideas to your peers?", "How do I get people to listen to my ideas?" and "What is the difference between showing leadership and being bossy?"

Although we would have liked more time to work on our designs (as the time limit was a bit short), we thought we worked well in our teams, as you can see in some footage of the task. Excuse the sound of workmen and their chainsaws cutting back some trees in the background...

Winter Games Simulator

What first sounded like a weird idea, has actually turned out to be really fun!

Check out this simple virtual simulator we have built. Once you hop inside, you can watch some of the events in the Winter Olympics from the viewpoint of the athletes.

We have thought of upgrades - fans blowing in our faces, wearing ski clothes, etc. So we'll post any developments as they happen.

Parachutes

Check out some footage of the testing phase of our recent parachutes inquiry...



This project allowed us to revisit the skills needed to manage our own inquiries, which will be very important going into our theme for this term, when we will be designing our own projects relating to our talents and interests. The big question is "How can I express myself?".

We are showing great planning, research and self-management skills. It is amazing to see how far we have come and we are looking forward to directing our own expression projects.