IDL Labs

Button Up

Using the book “The Button Box,” students will engage in a variety of button counting and sorting activities. A variety of buttons will be needed, both on the clothing the children wear and those brought from home or supplied by the teacher.

Kansas College and Career Ready Standards for Math:

• K.CC.A.1 Count to 100 by ones and by tens.
• K.CC.A.3 Write numbers from 0 to 20. Represent a number of objects with a written numeral 0-20 (with 0 representing a count of no objects).
• K.CC.C.6 Identify whether the number of objects in one group is greater than, less than, or equal to the number of objects in another group, e.g., by using matching and counting strategies.
• K.CC.C.6 Identify whether the number of objects in one group is greater than, less than, or equal to
• the number of objects in another group, e.g., by using matching and counting strategies.

The Lorax Stem Challenge

Celebrate Earth Day by planting some Truffula trees. It may not be as easy as you think.

Kansas College and Career Ready Standards for Science:

• K-2-ETS1-1. Ask questions, make observations, and gather information about a situation people want to change to define a simple problem that can be solved through the development of a new or improved object or tool.
• K-2-ETS1-2. Develop a simple sketch, drawing, or physical model to illustrate how the shape of an object helps it function as needed to solve a given problem.
• K-2-ETS1-3. Analyze data from tests of two objects designed to solve the same problem to compare the strengths and weaknesses of how each performs.

Kansas History – Mining

The late 1800’s and early 1900’s was the peak of mining in Kansas. Students can learn about how important natural resources like coal were mined and understand how the mining of the past impacts Kansas today. Teachers will be asked to provide a Hostess-type cupcake per student.

Kansas College and Career Ready Standards for Social Studies:

• Standard One: Choices have consequences.

Earth Day STEM Challenge – Oil Spill Clean-Up

Do you know what it takes to clean up an oil spill in the ocean? You’ll have a chance to find out, along with learning just how much it might cost.

Kansas College and Career Ready Standards for Science:

• 3-5-ETS1-1. Define a simple design problem reflecting a need or a want that includes specified criteria for success and constraints on materials, time, or cost.
• 3-5-ETS1-2. Generate and compare multiple possible solutions to a problem based on how well each is likely to meet the criteria and constraints of the problem.
• 3-5-ETS1-3. Plan and carry out fair tests in which variables are controlled and failure points are considered to identify aspects of a model or prototype that can be improved

Leonardo’s Flying Machines

Leonardo da Vinci wasn’t just a famous artist but also a talented engineer. He left behind volumes of sketches of flying inventions. Explore some of those and see if you can improve on his design.

Kansas College and Career Ready Standards for Science:

• 3-5-ETS1-1 Engineering Design – Define a simple design problem reflecting a need or a want that includes specified criteria for success and constraints on materials, time, or cost.
• 3-5-ETS1-2 – Generate and compare multiple possible solutions to a problem based on how well each is likely to meet the criteria and constraints of the problem.
• 3-5-ETS1-3 – Plan and carry out fair tests in which variables are controlled and failure points are considered to identify aspects of a model or prototype that can be improved.

Kansas College and Career Ready Standards for Visual Arts:

VA: Re7.2.3 – Determine messages communicated by an image.

VA: Cn11.1.3 Recognize that responses to art change depending on knowledge of the time and place in which it was made.

Panther Hunt

Panther Hunt – Students gain an understanding of carrying capacity when they act as predatory animals in a finite area and attempt to accumulate enough food to stay alive.

Kansas College and Career Ready Standards for Science:

• 5-LS2-1. Develop a model to describe the movement of matter among plants, animals, decomposers, and the environment.
• MS-LS2-1. Analyze and interpret data to provide evidence for the effects of resource availability on organisms and populations of organisms in an ecosystem.