Pumpkin Math 2015!!

Halloween is just around the corner which means costumes, candy, and PUMPKIN MATH here in Room 27!!  This annual favorite is not only a STEM activity, but is also one of the most fun activities of the year :)!  Pumpkin Math is a messy business as we were up to our armpits, literally, in pumpkin guts!  Right Liv and Ava?!  However, we still enjoyed every second of the experience!  

Here were a couple of the comments heard in passing:

"We all thought the biggest pumpkin would have the most seeds but we were wrong...and it was so so so fun learning math this way!"

"This is the BEST activity EVER!"  ---- "I take that back.  This is the MESSIEST activity EVER!"

"I should write about this in my journal!"

We love that this activity encouraged cooperation and encouraged conversations about our learning! 

 At this point, you may be wondering, "What IS Pumpkin Math?"  Well, we get to work in groups to compare our pumpkins' sizes, weights, circumferences, and number of seeds!  While doing so, we are even able to touch upon enrichment concepts such as median, mode, and circumference.  Additionally, we get the opportunity to problem-solve and collaborate in order to explain our thinking in words.  

Feeling jealous that you didn't get to partake in the experience personally?  Not to worry!  We brought the learning directly to you!  Take a peek below to get a glimpse into our "gutsy" morning.  Enjoy!  Anyone else in the mood for some pumpkin pie now???!!!

Ordering pumpkins by size!  LARGEST to smallest!

Goofy is the smallest...but good things come in small packages :)

The Donald group predicts the number of lines on their pumpkin.

Ranbir diligently records his prediction!

How many lines did the Goofy pumpkin have?

This group will NOT lose track of their line count.  Awesome strategy!

Teamwork is key in Pumpkin Math!!

Measuring the circumference is tricky!

Xi Wen with the assist!!

How many kids does it take to measure the circumference??

Measuring the circumference by first using non-standard units of measurement...unifix cubes!

What's the circumference of your pumpkin in unifix cubes?

Action shot!

Discussing the best way to measure!

Stretch out that string!

How many inches are on a ruler?

Mickey's circumference looks around 24 inches...wow!

What?!  Median and mode in second grade?! #enrichment

Time to cut our pumpkins open!

Come on Skylar...use some elbow grease!

Hudson has almost decapitated his pumpkin!

Taking turns using the pumpkin knife!  Great patience boys!

Goofy is the first pumpkin open but it's also the smallest!

Get in there guys!

Pumpkin guts are fun!

The Donald table loved sorting the seeds from the slime :)

Sophia and Ava weren't afraid to get down and dirty!

Look at all these seeds!

And the counting begins...

Come on boys!  Touch it!!!  Count those seeds :)

Ava is loving her pumpkin "paraffin" treatment!

Grouping seeds by tens to count quicker!

Ahhh!  Counting all of these seeds will take forever!

A little pumpkin slime never hurt anyone!  Count 'em up!

Love the strategy...group those seeds!

We are really multiplying even though we don't know it yet!  #repeated addition

Almost done...phew!

We even have our activity books to collect all of our data!

Even though the Back Table had the biggest pumpkin, it did not contain the most seeds.  We discovered there's no relationship between pumpkin size and # of seeds!!

**Disclaimer: Due to technical difficulties, we were unable to compare our pumpkins' weight.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

Cardboard Challenge 2015!

STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math) was in the house, haunted house I should say, today at Seaman!  As part of the Global Cardboard Challenge, Robert Seaman Elementary School participated in a day dedicated to using one's imagination in order to create.  Each grade level was assigned a specific theme.  Then it was left to the students' imaginations to engineer and build a design/structure centered around that theme.  The Second Grade designed haunted houses, and it was quite the spook-fest!  

Class 2-H kicked the day off by reading the beloved Not A Box by Antoinette Portis.  This read aloud encouraged the kids to use their imaginations as they followed the main character, Rabbit, while he used his own imagination to turn an ordinary brown cardboard box into an amazing adventure...a must read for all ages!





After Not A Box piqued our curiosity, Room 27 dove right into engineering our haunted house structures that we started in the Science Lab yesterday afternoon.  The students worked diligently to include moving parts using their knowledge of simple machines from the first grade science curriculum.  Next, once the structure was fully constructed, it was time to decorate our haunted houses.  The special effects included are sure to creep out even the bravest of souls!  Some of these effects include moving doors/windows, swinging eyeballs/skeletons/spiders, smoking cauldrons, jumping rats, moving staircases, and flying bats!  AHHH...BEWARE!!!

A "scary" good time was had by all as we let our imaginations soar higher than a witch's broom!  What an enriching learning experience, which was even more special due to the involvement and participation of ALL grade levels.  We can't wait to take a gallery walk around the building to admire the masterful work and creativity of our friends at all the various grade levels.

We'd like to give a special thanks to Ms. O'Neill, our fantastic science teacher!  Today would not have been possible without her amazing weekly science lab lessons.  Ms. O'Neill coordinated, organized, and instructed each grade prior to embarking on our school-wide challenge.  Additionally, she provided all of the outstanding decorations for our haunted houses.  Her dedication to teaching and learning has enriched us all!  Thank you Ms. O'Neill!!!!

Even though families could not join us for our STEAM Cardboard Challenge, please check out the virtual footage below.  Watch our houses transform from ordinary cardboard boxes into ghostly masterpieces!  Happy haunting!!!

WOW!  So proud of Class 2-H!!