STEM.tas.tic

Destination Imagination, 2nd Grade

Do you want to have fun and be part of a team?

Do you like to create new things? Build or design? Paint or draw? Act or improvise? Write or compose? Do you look at things differently than others around you? Enjoy being part of a team? Looking for something cool?

If the answer is yes to these questions, then you would enjoy Destination ImagiNation®. DI is for anyone who likes to be creative in one way or another. It doesn’t matter whether you get all A’s in school or even high scores on tests! Anyone can participate in DI if they are willing to work hard with fellow teammates!

WHAT IS DESTINATION IMAGINATION?

Destination ImagiNation (or DI for short), is a rather unique opportunity for kids to use their creativity and work together to solve a challenge. A team of up to 7 students will work on a solution to a Rising Stars! Challenge for younger kids in kindergarten through 2^nd grade.

In March, teams will take their solutions to a local affiliate tournament where they will showcase their creativity, see how others solved the same Challenge, celebrate their accomplishments and really have FUN!

 

WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO BE ON A DI TEAM?

You must be committed! DI will be a lot of FUN, but it will also take some time.

However, if you have at least one free afternoon per week or some weekend time, you probably can fit it in.

Below is a rough idea of the time commitment you would need to make:

• November – January -- one meeting per week
• February – at least 1-maybe 2 sessions per week
• March-- the Affiliate Tournament is in March-- plan on lots of meetings to get ready!You MUST come to scheduled meetings! You are part of a TEAM and they are depending on YOU!Sound like FUN? DI is starting at YOUR school for 2^nd graders, so tell your Mom or Dad that you want to find out more about DI, and have them email your school coordinators! Next, attend a meeting about DI! With Mom or Dad! Check out gadi.org for more information!Meeting Date: Monday, November 28th   Time: 2:45-4:00   Location: Room M4- 2^nd gradeCoordinators’ Email: nina.delk@cobbk12.org / pamela.wilfred@cobbk12.org
•                                                     
• DI Program Coordinators: Ms. Delk / Mrs. Wilfred

Student Participation in Science Fair

King Springs is developing a STEM culture among our faculty and students. Through professional learning opportunities, we are exposing our teachers to the possibilities we can and should be giving our students if they are to be prepared for the best opportunities in the future.

            For the past 3 years, our students, on a strictly optional basis, have produce between 110 and 120 projects each year. Our STEM cohort has developed a science fair rollout to support the STEM culture we are developing.

            This year, all kindergarten, 1^st and 2^nd grade classes will develop a class science project, thoroughly acquainting students with the Scientific Method. Each class will submit their project for display on STEM night in January 2017.

            This year, students in grades 3-5 will receive extra credit for submitting a science fair project two days before the STEM night. Their projects will be judged and the top two projects in each grade will be sent to the district Science Fair in February, 2017.

            Next school year, 2017-2018, 3^rd grade students will receive a grade for their science fair projects (students may work in small groups) while it will remain extra credit for grades 4 and 5. In the 2018-2019 school year 3^rd and 4^th grade students will receive a grade, while it remains extra credit for 5^th.

This chart shows the projected increase in participation:

School Year	2015-2016	2016-2017	2017-2018	2018-2019
Participants	Optional to all	K-2 mandatory 3-5 extra credit	K-3 mandatory 4 & 5 extra credit	K-4 mandatory 5 extra credit
% Participation	13%	57%	70%	84%

These numbers are based on current enrollment per grade level and a conservative estimate of the projected optional performance for the upper grades.

To facilitate greater participation, extra workshops will be hosted after school and help will be offered in the media center during recess times. Resources will be supplied through the STEM resource room through a generous donation from the KSE Foundation/PTA.

We believe this rolling approach will give our students a strong background in the early grades and prepare them for success in the upper grades. We are unwilling to require participation for the sake of appearances without ensuring students will have what they need to produce meaningful and quality work.

Monarchs in our Garden

Our Robotic Team is working this year on a project to help improve the habitat of the Monarchs as they migrate across Georgia on their way to Mexico. The tag was placed on the wing of all three of the Monarchs we reared and released.

The Robotics team is researching the need for more Milkweed to be planted around the Smyrna area. Our students have gathered seed from Milkweed plants at our 2-5 campus and are currently in the process of making seed packets to hand out to all After School Students to take home and plant. Inside each packet, the families will find directions for planting and a link for more information.

The entire school body grades 2-5 participated in the symbolic Monarch Migration project in STEM sponsored by Journey North. Each child made a Monarch and tagged their butterfly with our school name and town. The butterflies where sent to other students in Mexico to celebrate the arrival of the butteries. In the spring our students will receive a butterfly from another school as the butterflies return to Georgia on their way back to Canada for the summer.  

Although this photo looks photo-shopped, it is not.  The monarch is on a zinnia in front of the mural painted on our garden shed.  The circle on the butterfly also looks photo-shopped... but it's not:)

Science Olympiad

Each year King Springs' students apply to be a member of the Science Olympiad Team.  It is a very popular activity and the team has done well in competitions since beginning three years ago. 

Last year the team placed 7th at the district level and had the opportunity to move ahead and compete at the state level.

As we learn more about the process, we expect our students to continue to grow.

Science Olympiad Site

Science Fair

Each year King Springs gives each student the opportunity to participate in a Science Fair.  Since the revival of this yearly event four years ago, interest has increased each year.  Here is our special Science Fair Site.  Students compete at the school level and then top performers are able to represent the school at the CCSD Science Fair.

Garden Club

Our Junior Master Gardening club has been made possible through the help of so many partners.  The leaders were trained by the UGA Extension Service.  ibm.com provided the manpower to build a beautiful outdoor growing garden.  Lowes provided a $5,000 grant.  Then came Captain Planet to save the day with additional funding, expertise, and personnel.  Our students have been the clear winners in this collaborative endeavor.  The club has their own blog.