Dominoes!

Ok...we will try this a second time...I tried to add mini videos and Blogger was not working.

Problem solved - I would have to download them to my computer then upload them or share to YouTube.  But 'still' pictures of dominoes are no fun!  So I had to create a new plan to share domino chain reactions with you later in the blog.  

So I am going to re-type my post and hope to add some awesome videos.

January is long dreary month following the excitement of the holidays.  Luckily, I got an inspiration in early January. 

It was from one of STEAM Facebook groups...I saw this post and the rest is history ;)

I immediately thought of the Kids Heart Challenge in February...I  reached out to my dear friend who was leading this activity and she was open to adding it.  Then I asked my principal...and he said YES as well!

Now to plan and coordinate the fun.  Here is the letter that we sent to families!  

I decided that a lesson on dominoes would be cool.  I didn't find any that I loved...so I developed a totally new lesson, bought a pack of dominoes, and decided to throw in my observation as well!

My lesson included a power point...students wrote out SEE THINK WONDERS about dominos.  I think that we will answer some WONDERS next week.  I have to find a safe and easy way to research dominos.  Not sure if we will use Power Library Kids or a regular search engine.  

Plus we discussed potential and kinetic energy.  I found a short pandemic video on this topic.  It worked well.  

Then students were given a bag with 10 dominos, 10 Legos, and 10 Keva planks.  They had 10 minutes to engineer mini domino chain reactions.  Sharing was a challenge as well as keeping accurate counts in the bags...but we just made adjustments as needed.  

Students enjoyed this activity along with 10 minutes of coding on Code.org.

The end of class brought a discussion of the world record for cereal box dominos.  The video was a huge hit!  Cereal Box Domino

Plus some students learned about the history of the word DOMINO and a bit about the game on Wonderopolis.  Wonderopolis - Domino

If we had any extra minutes - they got to see a new fun website on CLEVER which was the Kids Guinness World Records - Kids Guinness World Records

I cannot add videos here so I created an album in Google with some of the chain reactions.  Student domino creations

This week will be our official Heart Healthy Cereal Box Domino on Tuesday.  Then before the holiday party, we will run the domino chain reaction.  After that, boxes of cereal will be donated to our local food panty.  Kindness is a part of the Kids Heart Challenge and a great message :)

Next week is on Copyright and Creativity and some quick research on our WONDERS.  

Excited for a quiet-ish weekend, fun week ahead, then a LONG weekend :)

Here is my start of the cereal box collection - I did not want to store all of them - so more of coming in!  The goal is HEART HEALTHY CEREAL!

Perspective week

 Some weeks life is going well...Some weeks cause you to pause.

This was a tough week...tougher for others but losing two woman was a bit of a mental health speed bump.

Saturday morning my sweet second cousin passed away from brain cancer.  A fellow mom and teacher.  I saw her once a year at reunions...maybe at a wedding or funeral.   I always remember her smile!  It was tough...I regetting not sending a note in January like I wanted to send.  We drifted apart with COVID and no reunions. 

Fast forward, Sunday I fought a mild stomach bug brought home by my 5 year old.  Thanks honey.

As Monday started, news spread of a dear mom in my community who suddendly passed away.  Her son a senior...I knew her as the kindest person.  Any visit to her food truck resulted in her trying to give me an extra.  Plus I worked a few nights with her over the summer.  I was doing a bit of waitressing and she was one of the cooks/fryer.  Her son was playing football and a senior.  She jumped in to fill the opening. What stands out most, her infectious smile.  Always putting others first.

Two smiling joyful giving women...loved others...gone too soon.

There is a beautiful message here...but writing is more therapy than inspiration. 

I just know that I need to live every day with no regrets...

So I am signing off to make home made poptarts, drive kids to musical practice, then build some memories in my home.

I have lesson plans to write for a new exciting lesson on dominoes...not the pizza.

Dominoes are the vehicle to a new unit on energy, kindness, heart health and more!

I like to post photos in this blog, but nothing fit but this quote. This is what stuck out to me as I was listening to my Catechism in a Year podcast this week...we need grace and we need each other! It spoke to me.

The last two minutes really was what I needed to hear...but this was the best nugget.