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STEM News in Exeter

STEM Ex Fall 2016

STEM Newsin ExeterSTEM Ex Fall 2016

Investigations 3rd Edition

The K-5 teachers in the district have started off Year 3 of Investigations with a new edition! This new edition is a focused, coherent, and rigorous resource. It is fully aligned to the content and practice standards of the Common Core. Teachers at this level have also had opportunities for professional learning centered around computational fluency. On October 10, these sessions were led by their colleagues!
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Checklists

Tiff Mell led teachers through a session on the progression of checklists vertically K-5. Teachers got to see how student work with the math practices changes from grade to grade.
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Teacher Notes

Karen Timura, Jess Quay, and Adam Ousley worked through a sample Teacher Note and demonstrated how teachers can utilize this embedded professional development tool during their PLC time.
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Activities

Marji Haines & Dani Jupina led their session with a focus on games K-5. Here teachers watch as Tom Hirshorn shares his thinking with the group.

STEM @ JHS

STEM offerings at the JHS are under way! We have the following courses this year:

Design & Modeling (7th grade)

Automation & Robotics (8th grade)

Exploring Technology (elective)

Computer Science (elective)


Here's an example of some of the learning from the 7th grade D&M class:

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Design & Modeling

STEM 1 (7th grade) PLTW: Design & Modeling

~Mr. Zachary B. Schools

One way to learn more about how an object was created and functions is to take the object apart. Similar to scientists performing anatomical dissections to learn about how an animal or plant functions, engineers perform mechanical dissections on objects and mechanisms to better understand how they were made and how they work. Objects are carefully taken apart with close observation and documentation during each step of the dissection.

Students imagine themselves as mechanical detectives. They take apart and remove each piece carefully while disturbing as little of the machine as possible. Each piece must be photographed, identified, and catalogued. Mechanical dissection helps you learn about the parts of the machine and how they work together.

During this project, students will work in a team to carefully dissect a puzzle toy. This is important for them to be able to reassemble the puzzle and design modifications to the toy that would make it more usable for a child with cerebral palsy (CP).

After removing the parts, they will document the parts with sketches and annotations.

Finally, they will design a modification for the puzzle toy, determine the optimal team design solution, and present their design concept.

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Session: Enrichment with Math Labs (math workshops)

There was a lot of great information in this session and the presenters were more than willing to answer questions and help teachers follow their model! They also shared a folder with various resources for grades 3-5 which can be found here: Webster
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Famous Math Teachers

Of course you know Himmelreich and Stott...in case you were wondering who the third person in this picture is...Yes, that is Dan Meyer! He is a very dynamic speaker who talked about how math is POWER not punishment. His presentation can be found here: Math IS Power
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Session: 21st Century Learning, The Paperless Classroom

Come and see what a paperless geometry class looks like! This interactive pdf provides you with many resources for starting a paperless classroom! 21st Century Learning

Coaching, Support, and Pineapple Learning

Deb Dawson will be joining us in our Math adventures once again! Deb will be working with teachers in the upcoming weeks. She is available for coaching, feedback, co-teaching and general support in math. Feel free to reach out to her at DKDawson@exeter.k12.pa.us to schedule some time.

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Did you know?

The Pineapple is a symbol of hospitality and can be used as an invitation to learn! See how teachers are using "Pineapple Charts" to share with colleagues and invite each other in for quick, informal observation opportunities. :)

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Connect with Math & STEM @ Exeter

SAVE THE DATE:

January 31: STEM Community Partnership Meeting

April 20: Spring into STEM night

May 17: High School Engineering Design Trade Show

Email: skdiehl@exeter.k12.pa.us
Website: http://www.exeter.k12.pa.us/domain/768
Twitter: @mathdiehls