HOUR OF CODE

The Hour of Code is a one-hour introduction to computer science, designed to demystify code and show that anybody can learn the basics. It is a global movement which has reached over 77,000,000 people in more than 180 countries in the last two weeks alone.

The sites we used are available at this link http://studio.code.org/

Mystery Beads

First grade students have been learning about the sun in their i-STEM unit entitled Mystery Beads.  Students were challenged to design a boat that would protect their mystery bead from the sun's harmful rays.  The boat was required to float.  Students worked together, learned from each other, and were given the chance to problem solve and redesign their boats after testing.

 Dr. Jerri Alexiou, local dermatologist, visits to talk about the importance of protecting your skin from the sun's harmful rays.

Mrs. Copley's class observes an experiment testing sunscreens with different SPFs.

 Mr. Swartz's class tests their boats.

 Success!

Bubbles, Bubbles

Students in Ms. Armstrong's Kindergarten learned about sharing as they tested different solutions to determine which would create bubbles.  One thing they learned was that it is sometimes hard to wait your turn when there is only one bubble wand.  Following the experiment, students designed and created their own bubble wand.

Who Will Help Me?

Kindergarten students in Ms. Nicklas' class learned about the value of helping.  After watching The Little Red Hen, students helped Ms. Nicklas pick up popcorn that had been spilled.  

Students discovered that the task was easier if 
everyone worked together.

Everyone watched the popcorn pop!

"Who will help me eat the popcorn?"

"We will," said the students.

Finally, students wrote about the experience.

First Day of School

Students in Ms. Campbell's fourth grade class started the school year off with the Marshmallow Design Challenge. This activity allowed students to work in teams as they built the tallest structure possible to support a marshmallow using only the materials given.

Great Books Consultant Visits WES

On Tuesday, March 11, Mr. Kriko Michaels with the Great Books Foundation visited Waterman for a day full of Shared Inquiry and Directed Note Taking for many of our 2nd, 3rd, and 4th graders. Mr. Michaels taught lessons in a number of classes, observed students participating in shared inquiry discussions, and provided professional development after school for teachers.  

Starry Night Review

Our Starry Night event did indeed turn out to be a Cloudy Night.  

We had an impressive turnout with approximately 250 people attending. 

 Highlights of the evening included

 Straw Rocket Design Challenge

Star Songs Sung by First Graders

Presentations by Local Astronomers

Starry Night Mural in the Library

and Dinner.

A shout out goes to everyone who attended and to the many people who volunteered their time and talent to make this night a success.

Looks like it's going to be a Cloudy Night Event

Never fear, the show will go on.  It looks like February 22 is going to be a CLOUDY night instead of a STARRY night.  This means we will not get to look through telescopes at the night sky or use the iPads to locate planets and constellations.  We will replace these activities with the astronomers and their telescopes  in the 2nd floor computer lab as well as a Constellation Creation activity and a Marshmallow Design Challenge that was a hit at Valley Mall STEM day.

Time	Place	Activity	Details	Tips
5:30 7:30	Gym	Star Lab	Presentations begin every 20 minutes	Stop by a get a ticket to reserve your time.
5:30-5:45	Cafeteria	1st Grade STAR songs	Thank you 1st Graders	Enjoy!
5:45-6:30	Cafeteria	Dinner will be served	Thank you HCPS School Nutrition	Enjoy!
5:45-7:30	Library	Starry Night books and family art project	Look at books for inspiration as you contribute to our Starry Night Collage	Allow 20-30 minutes
5:45-7:30	2nd floor	Straw Rocket Design Challenge	Design and build a straw rocket.  How far will yours fly?	Allow about 30 minutes for designing, building, testing, redesigning.
5:30-7:30	2nd Floor	Constellation Creation	Create Constellations using toothpicks and marshmallows	Allow about 15-20  minutes
5:30-7:30	2nd Floor	Marshmallow Design Challenge	This was a hit at STEM day at Valley Mall.  Challenge will begin every ½ hour.	Fun for the family.  Challenges will begin at 5:30, 6:00, 6:30, 7:00
5:45-7:30	2nd Floor Lab	Astronomers with telescopes	Will include an astronomy presentation	Presentations will begin at 5:30, 6:00, 6:30, 7:00

Family Field Trips

Pre-K  through 2^nd Grade  
Saturday, March 15, at 10:00am
John C. Wells Planetarium - JMU
"One World One Sky: Big Bird's Adventure"
**the movie is available in English only but  there will be a star talk in Spanish at 11:00


 3rd and 4th Grade  
 Tuesday, March 18   
 John C. Wells Planetarium – JMU
   "Wonders of the Universe"
       English speaking families @ 6:00
       Spanish speaking families @7:00  
   
 Thursday, April 3
    Science on a Sphere presentation
    Memorial Hall - JMU
    English speaking families @ 6:00
    Spanish speaking families @7:00    


Parking at the Planetarium and Memorial hall in the evenings is free and plentiful. You can find details here: http://www.jmu.edu/planetarium/parking.shtml

Starry Night

On Tuesday, February 25, Waterman Elementary School will host a STARRY NIGHT family event beginning at 5:30.  Highlights include:

• Star Lab Presentations in the gym
• Local astronomers with telescopes to view the night sky
• Go Sky Watch iPad app to locate planets and constellations
• Straw Rocket Design Challenge
• Starry Night art activities
• Star songs performed on stage by first graders 
• Dinner will be provided
  

VA Center for Wind Energy Visits WES

Mrs. Showalter assists students in learning how the number
of blades effects the amount of energy produced by
a wind turbine.

Third grade students worked in teams to design and build wind turbines as they learn about sources of  renewable energy.  Students rotated through four stations to observe different variables before being challenged to design a turbine that would produce the most energy.

Station 1 - What effect does the material the blade is made of have on the amount of energy produced?

Station 2 - What effect does the length of the blade have on the amount of energy produced?

Station 3 - What effect does the number of blades have on the amount of energy produced?

Station 4 - What effect does the pitch of the blade have on the amount of energy produced?

Students designed, built, tested, and re-designed as time allowed.  The top design produced 1.95 volts of electricity.

We appreciate Deanna and Blaine from the VA Center for Wind Energy providing this experience for us.