A team of engineers were curious to see what happened when the electrical connections were switched. By experimenting they found out how to make their car go in reverse!
Experimenting With Solar Cars
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Monthly Archives: April 2017
Engineering = Learning and Fun Rolled Together
Engineers from Pratt and Whitney of United Technologies helped the fifth-graders at CREC Discovery Academy design Solar Cars, Jet Propulsion Vehicles, Hover Crafts and Bridges. Under the guidance of the engineers, students had to brainstorm, design, create and improve their models to reach set standards. The rooms were alive with discoveries, inspirations, laughter and some amazing team work. The program is quite popular and we will try to get them back in 2019.
Thank you UTC for supporting STEM in schools!
Hover Crafts
Solar Cars
Jet Propulsion
Bridges
Praying Mantis Hatching at Discovery
Our 5th grade girls are nurturing our praying mantis egg sack during recess. Any day up to 100 bugs will hatch.
UTC Engineers Coming Friday to 5th Grade!
Engineers from United Technologies will provide engineering lessons to fifth-graders at Discovery Academy on Friday, April 28th. Students will learn about solar cars, jet propulsion and other STEM activities. “I love finding opportunities for the students to interact with community members and professionals. The 5th graders will love meeting UTC Engineers and learning about some of their career choices,” said Clare Neseralla. She met the organizers at the STEM Field Day held every summer at Manchester Community College. Project STEM, is comprised a group of Pratt & Whitney employees who generate interest in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math by volunteering at middle and high schools in the greater Hartford area. Mrs. Neseralla shared that elementary students knew a thing or two about engineering and convinced them to come to Discovery Academy.
Photo from last year’s STEM Field Day
Discovery Academy Made the News
Yesterday a reporter from WFSB came to see the Earth Day activities at the school. Here is a link to the news clip.
Please Pass the Vegetables – Earth Day Was Delicious
Discovery Academy students were treated to many new tastes as they sampled vegetables and fruit or made salads today in celebration of Earth Day. Many students were brave and ventured into new territory . Some students may be looking more closely at labels to see how far their food has traveled. Thank you to all the staff, parents and students who brought in materials or helped support the classes. A special thanks to the high school students for the Academy of Science and Innovation.
Exploring the Earth One Bite at a Time
For Earth Day we are making salads in eleven upper grade classrooms tomorrow. The students are learning about farm to table and the carbon cost of food transport. Students are bringing in vegetables and spices and the PTO is generously suppling the lettuce, oil and vinegar. Unfortunately, there is a nationwide lettuce shortage. Maybe the lesson should be how climate changes in California can affect our food supply in New England?
Cool Place Value Tool
Exploring the Earth a Bite at a Time
Earth Day will be celebrated at Discovery Academy on
Monday, April 24th from 9:00-12:00.
The upper grades will enjoy food awareness activities and the lower grades will learn about stages of the foods we eat. We are looking for parent volunteers to help on the rooftop garden with student tours and food samplings. We need parent support and food samplings for the PreK, Kindergarten and 1st graders to try.
Our Five Rooftop Displays include:
Corn and Cabbage
Plums and Grapes
Eggplant and Tomatoes
Beans and Cucumbers
Potatoes and Carrots
Please consider joining us and supporting this fun activity. Contact Mrs. Neseralla if you want to help. cneseralla@crec.org.
Meeting a Baby’s Needs
The first grade integrated baby study is continuing in Design Lab. Students are following the Engineering Design Process to create a stroller or cradle for their babies. Everyone was given the same supplies and they worked as a team to design, test and improve their design until the team felt it met their baby’s needs.
