Blog Labels

Learning Space 1 are streamlining their blogging and moving towards creating comment threads. To facilitate this process LS1 are going three things:

1. Reducing the labels used to the following: Achievements, Arts, Cybersmart, EotC,HPE, Inquiry, Kiwi Sport, KiwiCan, Manaiakalani, Māori, Maths, Reading, Science, Summer Learning Journey, Technology, Writing
2. Using one of three different test types for posting: recount, information report, explanation
3. Engaging with other bloggers, asking questions, and replying to questions.

Tangrams! A simple machines challenge.

What do tangrams have to do with simple machines?

Room 9 had to make their own tangram puzzles from a single piece of balsa wood. Which simple machine did they use to make the puzzle? A wedge. Wedges separate things, either two different objects, or splitting one object into two like knives do. Because Mr Wong likes martial arts and zombies, Room 9 also learnt about the difference in usage between swords (thin, light, cut, fast) and axes (thick, heavy, chop, slow).

Once Room 9 measured, ruled, and erased guide lines, they needed to cut the pieces out of the wood. They found out that slicing / cutting takes several passes along the same line to cut through something.

After cutting out all of the pieces they had to try and make a house and a yacht before challenging themselves to do other shapes.

 

Here is the album for more photos:

Tangrams - simple machines

Inquiry

Today room 9 worked on their simple machines. The item that we used was balsa wood we all described about what it felt and what it looked like. After we described the wood Mr Wong gave us instructions to follow and draw on the piece of wood. When we followed the instructions we had to draw on the balsa wood. Drawing on the balsa wood was quiet hard because we had  to draw softly or other wise it will snap. Drawing on the balsa wood was quiet hard because we are used to draw barely. But after a few minutes people got the hang of it. So the finished result was quiet amazing. The words we used was parallelogram and square and triangle. 

Simple Machines challenge 2

Today Room 9 had their second challenge. This time they had to lift a stack of books with their little finger.

Which simple machine is best? After deliberating between a pulley or a lever, Room 9 decided on a lever.

Room 9 tried out various levers that happened to be in the class (Mr Wong's martial arts training sticks).

Room 9 already know that using a lever they can lift heavy objects (loads) with less effort. Now they are finding out about what happens with different length levers, or placing the fulcrum in a different place. What will they learn?

Mr Wong