This site is no longer active. It is an archive of work done by Pu'u Kukui Elementary Students.
PLTW - Engineering 2015-2016
This year we began working with Project Lead the Way (PLTW) modules. After our launch leaders (Jonelle Flight, Eliza Yoshida, and Debi Tisdell) became school level trainers we were ready to begin implementing PLTW in third grade and with all of our K-5 computer classes.
In the Science of Flight module students develop an understanding of the forces involved in flight as well as Newtonʻs Laws of Motion. Discovering computer-aided design, students used basic descriptive geometry as a component of design as they chose different wing designs for the gliders they were creating. They then applied their knowledge and skills to design, build, and test an experimental model glider to explore forces that affect flight. Finally they modified their glider as they solved a real world problem.
In the Science of Flight module students develop an understanding of the forces involved in flight as well as Newtonʻs Laws of Motion. Discovering computer-aided design, students used basic descriptive geometry as a component of design as they chose different wing designs for the gliders they were creating. They then applied their knowledge and skills to design, build, and test an experimental model glider to explore forces that affect flight. Finally they modified their glider as they solved a real world problem.
First we trained the teachers.
Then it was time for our students to get involved.
The third graders in Mrs. Keelan's, Mrs. Chang's and Mrs. Locke's classes also spent some time researching the Wright brothers and their contributions to flight. See their work here.
PLTW - Computer Science 2015-2016
Kindergarten, first, and second grade -Our kindergartners, first graders, and second graders learned to use the iPads as they explored the nature of computers and the ways that people control technology. They practiced giving directions to "Rosie" the dog as they helped her find her way through a maze, picking up bones and avoiding mud puddles. Then they learned how to use Scratch Jr. on the iPads to program different characters. The Kindergartners programmed animal characters to move to letters of the alphabet that represented the beginning sounds in the animals' names. The first graders went a step further and created habitats and showed how animals behaved, ate, and slept in their habitats. The second graders began working with grids and created games and game buttons. One group of second graders created animations of the water cycle.
Water Cycle Animation - Students in Mrs. Mathias' second grade class learned about the different stages of the water cycle and then they used Scratch Jr. to show the different stages of the water cycle.
First they needed to create their background to include sky, land, and water.
Then they created characters that would be needed in the water cycle. (sun, sun rays, water vapor, Drippy, clouds, water droplets, rain, arrows going forward and backward.
After that they created 4 different pages and placed their background on each page.
To build their animation they labeled each page with a title (The Water Cycle, Evaporation, Condensation, and Precipitation) and they began building each page by giving directions to each character telling it what to do and when to do it. Sometimes they triggered the animation with a "start on green flag button" and sometimes they triggered the animation with a "start on touch" button. They also used repeat loops. They programmed their arrow buttons to move to the next page or to the previous page.
Finally they added their Drippy character and text bubbles to explain what was happening at each stage of the cycle.
After all the work was done the class shared their animations, explained what they did and got feedback and suggestions from the rest of the class. Here's a sample movie.
First they needed to create their background to include sky, land, and water.
Then they created characters that would be needed in the water cycle. (sun, sun rays, water vapor, Drippy, clouds, water droplets, rain, arrows going forward and backward.
After that they created 4 different pages and placed their background on each page.
To build their animation they labeled each page with a title (The Water Cycle, Evaporation, Condensation, and Precipitation) and they began building each page by giving directions to each character telling it what to do and when to do it. Sometimes they triggered the animation with a "start on green flag button" and sometimes they triggered the animation with a "start on touch" button. They also used repeat loops. They programmed their arrow buttons to move to the next page or to the previous page.
Finally they added their Drippy character and text bubbles to explain what was happening at each stage of the cycle.
After all the work was done the class shared their animations, explained what they did and got feedback and suggestions from the rest of the class. Here's a sample movie.
The Water Cycle from Debi Tisdell on Vimeo.
Third, fourth, and fifth grade-Our third, fourth and fifth graders worked on the Programming Patterns module from Project Lead the Way as they moved past basic sequential computer programs to modularity and abstraction. We began with computer free activities that explored how difficult it was to write a simple set of directions and have someone follow those directions. We asked students to plan and give directions for how to walk in the shape of a square. Students learned that they needed to be more descriptive with directions for how to turn and learned about 90 degree angles. They quickly realized that to make a square you really are just repeating a pattern of walking forward and turning 90 degrees. That led to loops and repeats and finally they created functions which were simply a set of directions that were given a name (e.g., square). Moving on to the iPads students began using Hopscotch to create new characters and program their characters to follow various steps and to create interesting geometric designs. They learned about the coordinate grid and how it was used to position and move characters (positive and negative). Their final problem was to create a game on the iPad that would respond to user input (tilting the iPad to the right, to the left, shaking it, tapping it). Our third, fourth and fifth graders also spent time at the hour of code site working on the StarWars activities and Course #1.
VEX IQ - Simple Machines and Robotics
We were fortunate to purchase VEX IQ and VEX IQ Robotics kits this year. Our third graders explored using these tools to create simple machines. We had them available for families to use during our STEAM Exploratory night and we were able to use them for the first time in our after school robotics club.