E is for Exhibit (at OMSI)

We go to OMSI (Oregon Museum of Science and Industry in Portland) pretty often since we have a membership, but this time we were able to go into The Science Behind Pixar exhibit. This is a new exhibit that we hadn't seen before, so we were excited to check it out. This made for a great field trip and learning experience.

Just outside the window while waiting to go into the exhibit was a very rainy, wet day...

Before we went into the exhibit we watched a short video about the whole process from start to finish which laid the foundation for what we saw in the exhibit, which was many hands-on activities to play with the steps of making a Pixar animated movie. There were some fun statues/scenes too.

Buzz lightyear in life-size.

The concepts in the beginning stages of a Pixar story line are drawn and modeled. These are the models on display.

Moving shapes to see a 3D model and trying to figure out what shape that would make in a favorite movie...

Making the arm motion for different characters. There is so much to think about when you consider all the steps in making these characters move realistically.

Some more fun statues...

Monsters Inc. scene

Looking at real life sets and playing with cameras...

Some of the drawings and pictures all around were fun to look at.

More computer imaging to play with. This one was making a new character out of 3D shapes.

Stop-motion Animation station. This was a popular one. It always had a line so not all kids got to do it that wanted to, but Aric was able to get it figured out. This one is making the lamp jump by moving it in little steps and taking pictures.

This final picture is kinda weird, but kinda cool. It is the lighting station where the kids can push different buttons to create different lighting. The creators of Nemo had to play with light a lot in real life to make the underwater lighting in the movie look so realistic. We set the lighting to just blue, and it made the kids look kind of holographic for the picture, but in real life it looked really cool. I guess we should have added all the colors of lighting back in. It might have come out better. I guess that's the point of this lighting station!

The kids by a huge Dory statue.

That was a fun visit to OMSI, and always a great field trip idea. I am excited to check it out again sometime, although we do have to pay a little extra to get into the exhibit even though we have a membership. We might decide to do it at least once more before it goes away.

STEM building projects (A REVIEW)

I have always loved the idea of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) projects. These projects encourage great thinking and problem solving skills, but I've always felt like they needed to be tied to something else. Like there needed to be a learning component or some greater picture. Don't get me wrong, STEM projects alone are great, but I just need more for my quick thinking kids.  Tied 2 Teaching has brought to light exactly what I've been thinking. With their STEM Activities, Full Year of Challenges with Close Reading package we got to see and do STEM projects in a whole new way.

We received the full year bundle (electronic, PDF's) of 60+ STEM projects that will last us the whole year. The idea being that we have one for every week, and some weeks more. There are many that are tied to a holiday or special time of year, and there are many that can be done anytime. Either way there are a lot to choose from!

Worksheet of close reading questions.

To start a project first I pick from the list of projects in my STEM folder. If I want a holiday related one I check for that first (usually there is at least one choice, if not more). I open it up to a PDF, and decide which pages to print. They are about 21 pages long each so I don't always print all the pages. There are several different worksheets for the kids to use if needed such as: Close reading questions, planning pages, note pages, and reflection pages.

Cover page of the Leprechaun STEM building challenge. They all have a fun picture on the front with a hint of what the challenge is about.

All of the challenges begin with a close reading passage from Wonderopolis. There is a direct link within the file so I can quickly find the reading that directly relates to the challenge. This is the extra part that I love! Each close reading passage has a great topic that starts the wheels turning about the challenge with just a little more information and history about the topic. It also includes real life pictures, videos, and questions to ponder. I really love how this goes together with the STEM building projects.

Print up of the close reading from Wonderopolis. I printed it up for my class to take turns reading.

To read the "wonder" part of the challenge I usually printed this part up, and we would take turns reading and exploring the Wonderopolis page together. I would also have the computer in front of us because there are pictures and videos to click on. The kids liked reading through these together, and taking turns. We'd then answer the close reading questions (worksheet above).

Finally, it's time to build!

The challenge is specifically laid out in a nice page that I'd often print so we wouldn't forget the requirements. Or, I would leave it up on the laptop for all to see. The kids are excited at this point and ready to get started. All that reading and thinking really helps to get them excited. I have presented STEM activities to my kids before, and sometimes they just stare at me blankly like they haven't a clue or they lose interest before they can even formulate an idea. These STEM activities have really worked miracles in my house.

This is more of a 2D version of the log cabin out of sticks. Totally OK! I love how this child interpreted it.

The building challenge always produces some creative results. The kids are allowed to put their own ideas and spin on things for sure.

I was able to use a few of these STEM challenges in my homeschool co-op class, so some of the kids worked in pairs if they wanted.

Working in pairs or not creating a project together after much trial and error, and collaborating together proved to be a big success. 

That is basically how a STEM challenge from Tied 2 Teaching works.

Cover for Abraham Lincoln's cabin.

It can lead to some rabbit trails too! Like learning a bit more about Abraham Lincoln himself...

Note: These pages are not part of the STEM projects, but something else I printed up on my own to go along with it.
There are a few of the STEM pages on this table though!

Another challenge we did in co-op class was the index card skyscraper challenge.

The PDF file open on my computer for all to see.

First, we read all about skyscrapers with the close reading activity. Then, the challenge was to use only index cards to build the tallest skyscraper design. No tape. Nothing else.

We used a lot of index cards. With all these projects there are definitely items needed so I have been saving recycle products, and I am definitely going to stock up on crafts and building supplies when I find them on sale. When you have a big bundle of STEM projects like this you have to be on the look out for cheap things that look like they would be good building tools. The dollar store is highly useful too! The costs can add up, but there are so many ways to collect items.

The kids amazed me with this project. They all came up with some great solutions. Some kids needed some hints though too!

This boy had to restart his several times. He persevered even in the face of failure. Such a great lesson to learn! These projects teach that so well. Another reason I highly recommend these STEM projects.

These towers were created by a team of two boys. They worked so well together.

One of my favorite challenges was the leprechaun challenge.

For the leprechaun challenge my boys designed and created a trap that would lure and catch a leprechaun. We did the close reading, and answered the questions. Explored some ideas. Gathered supplies that I had collected over time, and got to work! This was done at home in our homeschool setting, not in our co-op, and my boys had a blast. They really came up with some great ideas.

My 2 boys ages 8 and 10 worked on their own leprechaun traps, and they both came up with a different way to do their trap.

My youngest came up with the idea to use a pencil and let the box fall on the leprechaun..

His final completed trap.

8 year-olds completed STEM leprechaun trap.

My 10 year-old (who didn't want any pictures of the process) took a different approach and made a ladder that leads up to a trap door for the leprechaun to fall in. All decorated in shiny things and gold, of course, to lure him in.

10 year-olds completed STEM leprechaun trap.

What's even better? They did so awesome that I am proud to have them on the mantle for decorations. They had fun talking and wondering if a leprechaun would be caught.

I really loved all the projects we did, and look forward to doing these throughout the year. I highly recommend buying this bundle if you want a way to incorporate STEM in your homeschool. It gave me a little more to go on that just "build this" which really helped me as a teacher/mom.

If you'd like to see what others had to say about this you can click on the image below.

D is for Disneyland (Day 3)

Disneyland!

Our field trip feature for the letter D this week is our 3rd day at Disneyland from our trip back in November 2018. Disneyland is the ultimate field trip. I realized while there that there is so much to see and do, and even learn!

We went during the down week. Meaning it was the week that things were transitioning from halloween to Christmas. So there were no parades, no fireworks in the evenings, and lots of other things were taking a break until the Christmas opening day celebration. We were hoping by going that week that it'd be less busy. It wasn't too bad I guess, and it was kind of fun seeing the Christmas stuff slowly get set up. We were sad that we couldn't come for the opening day of the Holiday celebration. It looked like it would have been amazing.

There were still some fun things to see decorated for Halloweeen. The Haunted House was all decorated in The Nightmare Before Christmas theme. We went on that ride on the first day. We came across this fun scene in a store...

So, these pictures are just in random order because I don't remember exactly when things happened. Alex had been eyeing this Mickey hat for the first 2 days at Disneyland. We finally went and bought it in the afternoon on Day 3, but we certainly heard about buying that hat all morning! He did not forget! He is also showing us a pin he got in the picture below.

I was just amazed at all the fun little details all throughout the Disneyland and California Adventure parks. This V8 sign was just in the outside waiting area by the bathroom in Cars land. It's fun to see everything just tied into the attractions all around.

April was trying to recreate some pictures she saw on Instagram, so that is why there are a lot of pictures with her facing away. This one came out pretty cool. So many picture perfect moments at Disney.

We found a bakery in California Adventure, I think. It was educational too with information on making bread. We stopped and played with some of the interactive displays.

By day 3 everyone had picked out Mickey ears that wanted them. Aric finally decided on the light up Star Wars ones. These were so fun at night.

Alex and I went over to the Fantasyland to ride some of the rides we hadn't gotten to yet.

We did a drawing class at California Adventure. All of us learned to draw Sully from Monsters Inc. The drawings from each of us:

Me--Desiree

I think this one is Aaron

Alex

April--the resident artist in our home

Aric

I think this one is Dad's

We spent some time in tomorrow land before we left. Rode the Star Wars ride and finally this rocket one. Our last day at Disneyland was coming to a close too fast.

Seeing Aric's ears light up at night was pretty fun...

It was finally time to go. I was surprised at how sad I was at that moment when we were walking out toward the exit. We lingered a little by the Christmas tree...

Took some pictures, and said goodbye to a fun 3 days at Disneyland...

Some of us said goodbye in their own unique way...

I said goodbye while nearly crying because the memories we made there were just so great. I know it's a lot of money, but if  you ever have the chance to visit Disneyland it's worth it. There's so much to see and do, the experience is just incredible. I still think about this trip, and it makes me happy. So many happy memories, and believe me we had moments where things weren't so happy too. Here's to one of the greatest field trips ever! Disneyland!

This wraps up our Letter D Blogging Through the Alphabet. I am linking this up to #abcblogging.

If you'd like to see our other 2 days at Disneyland I have them posted here: Day 1 and Day 2. Also, I did a special post about Cars land.