Third grade teacher, Shannan Szakal, at Crestview Elementary has a class who has been working HARD on creating structures that would keep them safe in the midst of a natural disaster. She states, “My third graders never cease to amaze me, and only go to show that they’re only limited by the boundaries we set for them.”
Students researched, collaborated, planned, designed, and built structures based on what they learned about the storm that they chose (hurricane, tornado, tsunami, flood, earthquake). Collaborative Google Docs were used to compile research, different programs of choice (Pixie, Google Drawing, iPad Drawing app) were available for groups to choose to sketch their structure, and Legos/other materials were used to actually construct their creation. Students then brought in an element of measurement as they measured the area, perimeter and height of their structure. Finally, in their groups, students chose a platform of their choice (Powerpoint, Movie Maker, ipad app) to explain their creation. It just so happened that all of the groups thought it would be best to convey their explanations by using an ipad so we ended up giving them the choice of using the following apps: Educreations, Screenchomp, Tellagami or Videolicious. It was an amazing process to watch, and I’m so proud of all of them (especially Ms. Szakal who carried this out and spent HOURS planning, developing and creating the video above).
Check out the students’ final products:
Hurricane Structure:
Seek Higher Ground in a Flood:
Tsunami:
Earthquake:
Tornado
