InterSTEMsion Tackles Survival on a Volcanic Island
Middle School students become scientists on a virtual expedition in this year’s magma-hot March challenge.
On the morning of Monday, March 2, NCS Middle School students received a special assignment that would take them to a newly formed (and imaginary) volcanic island: nine teams, each composed of 13 -14 seventh and eighth graders, were to prepare to embark on a “virtual expedition” to the island.
To accomplish very specific survival tasks, students had four days to attend expert sessions in the necessary math, science, and tech skills, work in groups, build for shelter, food, and water, and to set up “base camp” and visit other team presentations.
Click here to see a photo gallery of InterSTEMsion in action!
Snow days on March 5 & 6 disrupted the original timeline for this year’s “InterSTEMsion” project, but our intrepid MS students (and their equally intrepid teachers) managed to meet all of the challenges, which included:
Math Challenges:
• 7th-grade students were given instruction in surface area and geometry concepts to guide them in designing and building a structure. They first made scale models of skewers and rubber bands, and then full-scale structures made of four-foot wooden dowels and rubber bands. All materials would have to be “purchased” within a given $1,000 budget for all expenses (including food).
• 8th-grade students covered mean, median, and mode analysis and use of the graphing calculator. They used these skills to analyze temperature and humidity data for the location to assist in calculating the water needs for their team.
To accomplish very specific survival tasks, students had four days to attend expert sessions in the necessary math, science, and tech skills, work in groups, build for shelter, food, and water, and to set up “base camp” and visit other team presentations.
Click here to see a photo gallery of InterSTEMsion in action!
Snow days on March 5 & 6 disrupted the original timeline for this year’s “InterSTEMsion” project, but our intrepid MS students (and their equally intrepid teachers) managed to meet all of the challenges, which included:
Math Challenges:
• 7th-grade students were given instruction in surface area and geometry concepts to guide them in designing and building a structure. They first made scale models of skewers and rubber bands, and then full-scale structures made of four-foot wooden dowels and rubber bands. All materials would have to be “purchased” within a given $1,000 budget for all expenses (including food).
• 8th-grade students covered mean, median, and mode analysis and use of the graphing calculator. They used these skills to analyze temperature and humidity data for the location to assist in calculating the water needs for their team.
Science Challenges:
• 7th-graders focused on water filtration and designed, built, and tested water filters to be able to process fresh but polluted surface water on the island. They were given plastic bottles, activated charcoal, sand, gravel and cotton to use in their filters.
• 8th -grade students calculated the dietary requirements for the team, then prepared a supply order using Peapod to determine their menus and expenses.
• 7th-graders focused on water filtration and designed, built, and tested water filters to be able to process fresh but polluted surface water on the island. They were given plastic bottles, activated charcoal, sand, gravel and cotton to use in their filters.
• 8th -grade students calculated the dietary requirements for the team, then prepared a supply order using Peapod to determine their menus and expenses.
Tech Challenges:
• All teams were refreshed in the use of iPads for use as record keeping/chronicling technology with the goal of preparing a video overview, Prezi, or Powerpoint of their trip preparation.
• All teams were refreshed in the use of iPads for use as record keeping/chronicling technology with the goal of preparing a video overview, Prezi, or Powerpoint of their trip preparation.
In addition, the teams were asked to produce a trifold display board including results of the menu and water calculations, and the designs of their filter and shelter. Teams were offered a bonus incentive to also put together a profile of the team and a mission statement— what they were hoping to study and learn from their trip to the island.
“The idea was to offer the girls an immersion experience that illustrated the interdisciplinary nature of true problem-solving,” said STEM Coordinator Nancy Ehrlich. “They covered new content in math and science while applying it in real time to the problem at hand and used technology in documenting the experience.”
Teams set up their “base camps” in the Woodley North courtyard on March 12 and visited each other's work.
Four awards were given for "S-T-E-M" -- outstanding work in each of the disciplines.
The Science Award went to Team 4, for their "effective water filtration system and their creative food plan. Their planning would assure a complete and balanced supply of food and drink and was completed well within the allotted budget."
The Technology award went to Team 7, for "their use of technology that supported the content of their presentation. The team worked well together to produce a great Storyboard in iPad notes, converted hand and board notes to digital format, and demonstrated mastery at creativity and innovation skills using the Presi tool!"
Congratulations to ALL our island explorers!
“The idea was to offer the girls an immersion experience that illustrated the interdisciplinary nature of true problem-solving,” said STEM Coordinator Nancy Ehrlich. “They covered new content in math and science while applying it in real time to the problem at hand and used technology in documenting the experience.”
Teams set up their “base camps” in the Woodley North courtyard on March 12 and visited each other's work.
Four awards were given for "S-T-E-M" -- outstanding work in each of the disciplines.
The Science Award went to Team 4, for their "effective water filtration system and their creative food plan. Their planning would assure a complete and balanced supply of food and drink and was completed well within the allotted budget."
The Technology award went to Team 7, for "their use of technology that supported the content of their presentation. The team worked well together to produce a great Storyboard in iPad notes, converted hand and board notes to digital format, and demonstrated mastery at creativity and innovation skills using the Presi tool!"
The Engineering award went to Team 5, for the most creative design, which also fell within budget. "They did a good job creating a model and writing detailed instructions for the builders. They did the most with their money and their design was thoughtful and structurally sound."
The Math award went to Team 1 for their "near-perfect calculations of water needs, their great estimates of expenses for food and shelter costs, the science and math studies they had planned for the island, and their fabulous presentation in a creative interview format of all of the science and math work that they did."
The Math award went to Team 1 for their "near-perfect calculations of water needs, their great estimates of expenses for food and shelter costs, the science and math studies they had planned for the island, and their fabulous presentation in a creative interview format of all of the science and math work that they did."
Congratulations to ALL our island explorers!