Third Graders “Google” Over Python
The third grade challenge students were treated to a two day lesson on the computer programming language “Python”. Mr. Bau, a computer programmer for Google and Gladwyne parent, took the students (and the teacher) through the beginning steps of how to create a computer program. By end of two days, students created their own computer program and a number of simple computer games.
Many thanks to Mr. Bau for his time, efforts and abundant patience in our computing endeavors.
Please enjoy the pictures below. Clicking on the images will enlarge them.
Fourth Grade Challenge Students Create Candy “Geodesic Domes”
As part of an architectural unit, students created virtual domes by using Google SketchUp. Later, they put these schematics to use when creating actual three dimensional domes made out of toothpicks and gummy candies. Students then tested the strength of these gum drop domes by piling as much as 19 pounds on these tiny, but strong structures.
Below are just a “taste” of some of the pictures. Be sure to click on the “Grade 4” link at the top menu of each page.
Fifth Grade Challenge-Space Station Alpha Mission a Success!
Gladwyne fifth grade Challenge students teamed up with their counterparts at Belmont Hills Elementary School to complete what would be an exciting and rewarding mission. For weeks, students learned about the effects of solar flares/storms on Earth. They studied their impact on the electrical systems of the space station, on orbiting satellites, the Northern Lights and the human body in space. Students learned how to monitor, interpret and appropriately react to increasing radiation levels, plummeting oxygen supplies and damaged navigation systems aboard the space station.
During this live simulation video conference, the students from both schools were grouped into four teams: communication, radiation, life support and crisis management. Linked up with “Mission Control” beaming out of Jesuit Wheeling University in West Virginia, students read and interpreted data uploaded to their computers about every 5-6 minutes, graphed the results, referenced research guides to determine its consequences, made appropriate recommendations and communicated suggestions back to “Mission Control”.
Over the course of this 90 minute simulation, students experienced the ups and downs of this realistic scenario. At the end of the day, all astronauts were rescued thanks to the hard work, dedication and ingenuity of some talented future NASA engineers.
Enjoy just a few of the pictures below from Mission Day, Tuesday, March 6, 2007.
Third grade challenge students blast off to Moon, Mars & Beyond!
As part of a live video conference space simulation. Gladwyne students worked collaboratively with students from other schools to save a space ship lost in space after losing power to its communication, navigation and propulsion systems.
Click here or go to the Grade 3 tab above for a comprehensive project description and mission day pictures.
Fourth grade challenge students take Yellow Fever Tour in Philadelphia!
The fourth grade gifted support group has been reading the book Fever 1793. It is a historical fiction novel based on the real events of the yellow fever epidemic that ripped through the City of Philadelphia in 1793.
As a culminating event, Gladwyne fourth graders teamed up with fourth grade gifted support students from Cynwyd and Merion Elementary Schools to take a walking tour of modern day Philadelphia to see a number of the historical locations.
