It's that time of year again

 The Pennsylvania Middle School Computer Fair is an annual event that highlights Pennsylvania middle school students' application skills and computer knowledge. Students are able to unleash their creativity, learn how to convey information more dynamically, and enhance the learning process.

(last year's web design team, 3rd place at state competition)

Seventh and Eighth grade students have begun work on their PA middle school computer fair projects. Students not participating in the STEMs challenge have opted to compete in this fun event.

This year we have students creating projects in web design, animation, digital movies, logo design, and graphic design.  Rules and Guidelines are located on this official website.  This years event will be March 3rd at the CSIU. Students should be working hard on completing their projects, posters, and reports.

High School Students interested in participating in the High School event should contact Mrs. Shively or Mr. Gengler. This is a great opportunity to put your tech skills to a test.

Structural Engineering Workshop

Structural Engineering Worksop at Bloomsburg University Ages 13 to 17

Attention Middle School and High School Students:

Students will learn about structural engineering through models. They will work on bridge structures and the tension, harmonics, and physics behind the forces applied to the structure. Towers will be built and the dynamics tested for ground prep, compaction testing of soil types, wind shear, and “shake test” for stability in earthquake simulation. The structure, mobility, counter weight, and center of gravity of cranes will also be studied. 

Instructor:  Mr. Stephen Goodale

Mr.  Stephen Goodale is the executive director of the Weatherly Institute for Robotics and Engineering.  He has created a safe, non-violent program that allows students of all ages to come and learn about the sciences through teamwork and personal creativity. The Structural Engineering Workshop will be Mr. Goodale’s third workshop with the College of Science and Technology.  In the past Mr. Goodale has taught a Robotics Workshop, Nanotechnology Exploration and multiple sessions for the Math and Science Summer Experience held every summer at Bloomsburg University.

Any questions please call Camp Director, Amanda Biddings, 570-389-5333 or email at abidding@bloomu.edu

The STEM Challenge

Southern Columbia Enrichment students (Grades 4-8) as a part of their engineering unit, plan to participate in the  K'NEX STEMs Challenge. 

CHALLENGE

Teams are challenged to create an environmentally friendly people mover. This vehicle must be able to travel at least 4 feet across the table and must overcome at least one obstacle (hill, curves, landforms, etc.). Obstacles are to be chosen and designed by the team. When making the presentation teams should be able to respond to how their vehicle is environmentally friendly, discuss how many people could fit in their people mover and describe their obstacle and how their vehicle will overcome it. 

Rules

• A team of 4 students will work together on the project.
• Only K’Nex kits and motors may be used. Each team may use up to 1400 K’Nex pieces.
• Schools must bring their K’Nex kits and motors on the day of the competition.
• Each structure must use at least one motor.
• Students will have 2 hours to put together their project at the competition.
• No pieces may be brought to the competition already joined.
• Each team will need to bring the following:
• Narrative Report Form
• blueprint
• Permission to Photograph Form
• Each team will need to prepare a presentation (max 2 minutes) on their model and how they answered the challenge.

Judging Criteria (Judging Rubric)

• Creativity
• Teamwork
• Challenge Success
• Design
• Presentation

Schedule

Detailed scheduled TBD (morning)

The Regional Competition will be held at the IU in the morning on March 4 (Gr 4-5) and March 10 (Gr. 6,7,& 8)

Permission slips for students competing in this event will be sent home by Feb. 1.  Students in grades 7-8, will be either competing in this event or the  Middle School Computer Fair.  K'nex kits are provided at school, but special pieces from home are allowed if special permission is granted by parents of the students. The main focus of this opportunity will be teamwork and ingenuity.   I wish students participating the best of luck!

http://www.knex.com/shop/17768/stem-design-challenge-set/

Lego Education: Simple Machines

Elementary and Middle School students have started an exciting new unit focused on STEM. State leaders increasingly view science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) achievement as a critical component of success in college, career and life. STEM education for all students is linked to our nation's future prosperity, in the hope to prepare students with the basic building blocks they need to be successful in postsecondary and workforce pathways.

During this Unit, students will be working with  Lego Education, K'nex, and Robotics. 

Lesson one focused in on using lego education and the simple Machines set. This activity pack enables students to work as young scientists and engineers. It helps students investigate and understand the operation of simple and compound machines found in everyday life.

The lego materials promote an enjoyable but challenging classroom environment in which students can develop skills such as creative problem solving, communication of ideas, and teamwork. So while kids think they get to come to class to just play with legos... They are actually using the initial use of scientific method through observation, reasoning, prediction  and critical thinking. 

Last week students focused in on Gear Principle and models. Students identified  gears, built models that showed increase and decrease of rotation, arranged gears so they turn the same direction, in opposite directions and at 90s degrees to each other. Students predicted outcomes, drew geometric shapes, and counted teeth on gears.

The week's challenge needed students to  identify a problem, build a model, test and evaluate their outcome. Students were challenged to design a 3-dimensional popcorn cart, that had a rotating sign to advertise their popcorn sale. Students who successfully completed the challenge created carts with rotating gears to power their signs. 

Great job kids!