What if astronauts...
...tested robots in space...
…programmed by YOUR students…?
SPHERES Robots STEM Resources TimeToast
TIS &THAT
To boldly go where no TIS has gone before
GoNoodle Zearn MathFlix
2016-2017 TIS Cohort Community Newsletter March 2017 Volume 5—Issue 15
A chance to remotely program robots in space! 1 ZERO Robotics is a programming competition open to middle and high school students. The robots used are called SPHERES (Synchronized Position Hold Engage and Reorient Experimental Satellites). Initial competition is held online as students program the SPHERES to solve an annual challenge. The first stages of virtual competition take place in a simulated environment that mimics the real SPHERES. Finalists from the initial challenge are selected to compete in a live challenge aboard the International Space Station. An astronaut aboard the station conducts the competition in microgravity and provides a live broadcast of the event. To make this even better, the competitions are FREE! You do not need to purchase devices or pay entry fees. All you need to do is gather a team of 5 to 20 students and a mentor. Then, register for an account and let the fun begin! ¤ Astronaut with SPHERES robots (nasa.gov)
http://zerorobotics.mit.edu/
NASA STEM Resources The NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory site has many good STEM resources. There are desktop apps, images & photos, games & interactives, missions and news. http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/apps/ Below are some examples: Eyes on the Solar System Explore the cosmos from your computer with this 3-D solar system full of real NASA mission data. Hop on an asteroid. Fly with NASA's Voyager spacecraft. See the entire solar system moving in real time. You control space and time in this desktop app and visualization tool.
(NASA STEM Resources continued on next page‌)
Interactive Timelines with Timetoast
(NASA STEM Resources continued… http:// www.jpl.nasa.gov/apps/) Moon Tours Explore the surface of the moon, including craters, hills, minerology and Apollo mission imagery, in incredible detail with this mobile version of NASA's Lunar Mapping and Modeling Portal. NASA Be A Martian The Be A Martian app lets you experience Mars as if you were there! Take part in discovery as it happens and join a community of worldwide explorers! This app offers exciting ways to take part in discovery and learn about NASA's Mars missions. ¤
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A timeline is a method for picturing or seeing time. They are great for organizing key events. For example, historians take events and place them on a timeline. By doing this, the relationship between events can be seen. Patterns can emerge that might not be seen without the timeline. If you want to create a graphical representation of a sequence of events, such as the highlights in a unit or the main events of a person's life, you can use Timetoast. Timetoast is a web site that allows you to create timelines for free. To use the web site you must create an account. Once you have created your timeline, you may publish your finished product. You may create as many public timelines as you want. Timetoast also allows you to print your timeline. Want to find out more about this useful strategy? Want to use timelines in your next project? Visit timetoast.com for more information. ¤
March Dates of Interest
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BREAKFAST WEEK 16 17 St. 18 Patrick’s Day 22 Register 23 24 25 for WVSTC at WVSTC.org 29 30 RESA 1 31 RESA 5 Spring Spring Regional Regional
GoNoodle’s Trick to Learning True: GoNoodle is a perfect site for brain breaks in the classroom. False: GoNoodle can only be used for brain breaks in the classroom. GoNoodle.com has been pushed as a fantastic site for brain breaks since its launch. However, those awesome sauce genies working behind the scenes at GoNoodle have created a site that offers more than just a 3-minute brain break for your energetic classroom of kiddos. Did you know that GoNoodle offers instruction, not just plain fun? It’s true! What you are about to read is going to get yo’ body movin’ and leave you wondering exactly how you missed the instructional opportunities that are ahead of you. Don’t worry! GoNoodle isn’t going anywhere, and the school year isn’t over yet! Sit back, chillax, and enjoy the next few minutes learning about how to use GoNoodle as more than just a brain break. You won’t be sorry! 1. GoNoodle and Language Arts Did you know that tigers have striped skin, not just striped fur? Your students will learn this and more with GoNoodle’s newest team members— BlazerFresh. My students have adored every single second with BlazerFresh and what they are learning through songs and some sweet dance moves about reading with expression and identifying syllables. What teacher doesn’t want to hear their children reminding each other not to “read like a robot?” If the cool guys in blazers aren’t your thing, check out some of the awesome features of GoNoodle Plus. You can create your own questions based on the reading content that you’re covering in class! Vocabulary? Check. Comprehension questions? Check. Site words? Check, check. The sky is the limit, and with so many different game options, your kiddos will be begging you to play. It’s a win-win. They burn off some extra energy and you give them an excellent review session.
Are you trying to jazz up your writing time? Have your students write to their GoNoodle champs or create their own songs that they would put on a GoNoodle channel. They can even video themselves singing and dancing along to their songs. Perhaps you need to work on persuasive writing? Have your student write about which GoNoodle video or game the class should pick next and why. Pick the student that was most persuasive and boogey to their choice as a class. With the variety of videos on GoNoodle, the possibilities for writing are endless. Just sit down this weekend, grab yourself a milkshake and a mozzarella pizza, and get thinking! 2. Plunky Robinson Does Math? Any GoNoodler knows that when you pick a new GoNoodle Champ, you earn a level for each activity you complete. That first use gives you a 1 out of 10. Incorporate math into your brain break time. How many more levels will it take for us to get to level 10? If Plunky Robinson grows 3 times and each growth takes 10 levels, how many more levels will it take for him to be fully grown? Students will be using math before you even realize it! Maybe your class needs more than just a short addition lesson when taking a quick break. GoNoodle Plus offers grade level specific activities for math practice. Students can do simple addition facts, fractions, multiplication, and so much more. My students enjoy responding to math facts and getting some exercise at the same time, and I know yours will too! 3. Please Tell Me There’s More. Guess what? There’s more! Math and reading are fantastic, but GoNoodlers are even starting to see some science and social studies instruction pop up on GoNoodle. What do you call an animal that has a backbone? Can you tell me something about voting? There are now some free options to incorporate those other core subjects. Not to mention, the “create your own question” feature on GoNoodle Plus offers even more opportunities! There you have it! With GoNoodle, you can bring in more than just the endless fun that these brain breaks have to offer. GoNoodle provides its users with the opportunity to learn. Now find your students and a computer and get started! They won’t even realize they’re learning while they’re having fun. ¤
MathFlix MathFLIX (mathflix.luc.edu) is a website that has FREE instructional math movies covering a wide range of math concepts including Number & Operations, Algebra, Measurement, Geometry, Data Analysis & Probability, Connections and Technology. The site also features 400 2 downloadable worksheets that reinforce concepts and provide practice. MathFLIX movies are 4-7 minutes in length, are organized by NCTM (National Council for Teachers of Mathematics) Standards and are also cross-referenced in an alpha index so viewers can access math support by specific topic. The MathFLIX website is created and maintained by Loyola University Chicago School of Education in partnership with The Chicago GEAR UP Alliance. ¤
You’re Going to Want to “Zearn It!” Do you want your students to “grow a strong brain” in math? Zearn.org is a website for mathematics instruction in grades K-5 that will do just that! Zearn can be used in collaboration with the free online math curriculum, Engage New York or by itself. Through this site, students will engage in interactive video lessons as well as activities and games for all your grade level math skills. Once you sign up (for free!), you can set up a class and then assign the whole group one lesson or individualize your instruction for each student. Each grade level has “Missions” that students must complete at their own pace, with specific topics and lessons in each one. “Missions” are labeled by instructional topic such as Counting and Place Value or Find the Area. Students begin each lesson with a brief fluency practice. Then, they move on to the interactive video, and finish up the lesson with engaging practices. Everything is incredibly student- and teacher-friendly with easy logins and layouts. Your students will quickly buy into every bit of the instruction. They’ll start to forget that they are even learning because they will be having so much fun! Zearn will be a huge game changer during your math block! It can be used in all situations including whole group, small group, and individual instruction. The best part is that you can move above and below grade levels for your different learners! Zearn is your quick and easy math station that reinforces whatever you’re practicing during your whole group lessons! ¤
This issue’s contributors... Pamela Stegall is the Technology Integration Specialist at Spring Mills High School in Berkeley County, and is part of the STEAM Leadership team there. She began her teaching career 24 years ago in her hometown of Barbourville, KY where she graduated from Union College with a Bachelor's in Secondary Business Education and a Master's as a K-12 Reading/Writing Specialist. In 2006, she moved to Berkeley County and began teaching computer classes at Spring Mills Middle School. In 2013, Pam returned to her roots in Career and Technical Education as a Business/Computer teacher and SYSOP at Spring Mills High School. She enjoys spending time with her family, camping and fishing, riding motorcycles, and traveling. pstegall@k12.wv.us Ashley Woody is a second grade teacher at Union Elementary School in Upshur County. Ashley graduated from West Virginia University with a Master's in Elementary Education K-6 and a specialization in Early Childhood Education. In addition to teaching, Ashley volunteers with her husband as a middle and high school youth leader at their church. In her spare time, she enjoys relaxing with her husband and their two golden retrievers. She also loves to read, write, craft, garden, and explore the outdoors. aewoody@k12.wv.us
Tom Royster is a Business teacher and SYSOP at Spring Mills High School. He has his Accounting/Business Education degree from Fairmont State University and his Master's in Instructional Technology from George Mason University. Tom taught for seven years in Northern Virginia before moving back to West Virginia where he has taught in Berkeley County Schools the last thirteen years. Tom enjoys spending time with his dog working on his thirteen acre farm. troyster@k12.wv.us
Frankie “Scott” Bennett is the TIS and librarian at Summers County High School. He got his bachelor’s in English education from Concord University and taught 7th grade English for two years prior to his current position. He enjoys hiking, gardening, and music festivals. fbennett@k12.wv.us
Unless otherwise stated, all graphics are creative commons-licensed materials, with the exceptions of the authors’ bio pictures (property of the individual contributors) and the following: 1) Zero Robotics SPHERES ISS Challenge logo is the property of the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space; 2) MathFlix logo is the property of Loyola University Chicago School of Education.