Book Talk Tuesday | Invent To Learn Book Review

Book Title: Invent to Learn - Making, Tinkering, and Engineering in the Classroom (Click to go to Amazon)
Authors: Sylvia Libow Martinez and Gary Stager, Ph.D.

This is a wonderful book that addresses the basic needs for anyone wishing to establish a Maker Space in their classroom or school. The authors give a wide variety of projects, materials, media, and resources for establishing your own Maker Space. The authors tend to focus on hands-on materials and projects. A discussion is also put forth on the value of making and the educational theory behind it. Much discussion focuses on robotics and electronics, but also, there is a balance struck in making with low cost materials. Emphasis is also placed on STEM as well as the arts in making. After reading this book, I've realized that Making does not need to be an expensive process and that it can encompass many different things from cooking to electronics to woodworking and even growing plants. I'd recommend this book for anyone wishing to inject more creativity and inventiveness into their classroom or school.

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Make Tissue Paper Hot Air Balloons in your Maker Space!

Thanks to Scholaris Gifted Academy for featuring us in their newsletter! Here is an excerpt on our tissue paper hot air balloons. We love this hands on project that requires so few (and inexpensive) materials. It's a perfect project for a Maker Space in your classroom.

Launching our tissue paper hot air balloons at Scholaris Gifted Academy!
That's me next to the torch that heats the air.

"During The Science of Gases students experimented with gases using, among other items, chemicals, liquid nitrogen, ping pong balls, and balloons. It was wonderful to see students discover the excitement of learning through hands on activities. In Imagine, Construct, and FLY!students designed, built, and flew hot air balloons using tissue paper and propane gas. They also constructed and launched bottle rockets and air pressure rockets. Distance was measured so that our scientists could go back to the work room and make any necessary changes to their rocket to increase speed and distance. It was amazing to see the students engage in these projects with overwhelming enthusiasm and creativity."

Maker Faire Detroit 2014 | Part 3

I had a great experience making a paper speaker at the MT.Elliot Maker Space booth. The middle school girls working at the booth taught a mini-class on how to make a mini-speaker using: a magnet, paper, scotch tape, and a wire coil. We hooked up the coil to a cell phone and amplifier and hear sounds coming through the speaker!

MT.Elliot is a Maker Space in Detroit that challenges children to take apart a donated bicycle. If the child is able to reassemble the bike, it then belongs to him and he can take it home!

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Maker Faire Detroit 2014 | Part 2

One area of interest to me is model rocketry. Every year my kids make model rockets and we launch them at school. This model rocket group from the Detroit area had a very nice display of large diameter rockets that I may try to incorporate into my middle school science classroom this year.

Making rockets can be either from a specific set of directions or when a child has the basic idea of how to make a rocket, they can create their own using paper towel rolls, toilet paper rolls, or Pringles containers. I've had some very nice homemade rockets made by students who created their own designs.

Get Kids Excited About Math Right at the Beginning of the School Year!

I find my students that love math are always excited to do math, but the beginning of the school year presents an opportunity to get the kids that are not-so-crazy about math excited and interested right away. I play tons of little math games with my kids. One way kids can improve their math skills is by identifying patterns. After all, math is nothing but pattern recognition!

Kids love a challenge in which they can practice trial and error and hone their skills at solving a problem. For example, I play a game called "1 to 1,000". In the game, I think of a single number between 1 and 1,000. Students are allowed to ask up to 10 questions to help them determine what that number is. Give it a try in the classroom. The kids will eventually refine their skills to ask questions that narrow the window.

Two other games I play are:

Veintiuno is a challenging game that can be used in English or Spanish. Students need to problem solve and determine the pattern to win the game. It’s a difficult game because the kids must figure out the pattern in their minds without seeing any concrete objects. I use it at the end of the day or end of the class as a challenge. I, of course, claim that I’m just lucky when I win every time, but the kids don’t believe it and are motivated to look for the solution. 

21 Chips! Play this game with students while waiting in line for the bus or at recess. Your students will be looking for the pattern but it will take some time, days, maybe even weeks, to figure it out!

21 Chips is a fun classroom game where players alternate turns using strategy to be the last to take chips. 

I use 21 Chips it at the end of the day or end of the class as a challenge. I, of course, claim that I’m just lucky when I win every time, but the kids don’t believe it and are motivated to look for the solution. Play this game with students while waiting in line for the bus or at recess. Your students will be looking for the pattern but it will take some time, days, maybe even weeks, to figure it out!

Give these games a try and help your students improve their problem solving skills and have fun with math!