Arduinos, qB64 and our physics unit ...

After a Teacher PD yesterday, we were back to work in the classroom today.   In Selected Topics, we crushed the wooden structures we build last week.  Students were allowed to use 34 grams of wood in the form of popsicle sticks to build a structure 7.5 inches or taller.  This structure was constructed with a minimum 2" opening in the center and to hold the maximum amount of weight.  It is modeled after the problems found in both Science Olympiad and Odyssey of the Mind competitions.  Our best group held 117 pounds which was lower than the all time record of 255 pounds.  Students learned about laminations, load-bearing members of a structure and stabilizing members.  Next big project in our maker curriulum will be an electromagnet.

 

 


In Computer Programming I, students are working on a graphics and animation problem using qB64.  We worked on animating objects today using looping statements and the PAINT command.

In Computer Programming II, we are finishing a set of Python problems while beginning our study of microcontrollers using arduinos.  We will be constructing some simple circuits using LED lights.

Our Academic Team plays at Franklin-Simpson on Thursday.

Fall Break Ends ... Python and Monarchs

Fall Break is officially over today since I do not count weekends.  Today I took a Future Problem Exam to coach this year.  It took a couple of hours since I have never scored a FPS student booklet.  I faxed it to KAAS this afternoon.  I have been working on some sample Python programs over break and doing alot of work on our farm.  Yesterday while walking on seed, I saw over 10 Monarchs ... migration still on but toward the end.  It is a long way to Mexico!

Selected Topics in Science finished up their catapult problem with a competition last Friday.  We still have three student groups to go but all were able to complete the project on velocity, trajectory and energy.  We will continue in our physics unit next week.

Computer Programming I has been working in qB64 programming.  We will start checking those programs on Monday as we start a graphics / animation problem.

Computer Programming II continues to work on Python problems.  We are currently working on problems that involve lists.  We will start our project rotation after next week which will include arduino controllers, raspberry pi computers and gamemaker.

The semester is half over next week ... time flies in block schedules.

PSAT will be on Thursday.  It has been over 10 years since we had a National Merit Semi-Finalist ...
We use to have one and sometimes two each year.   Good luck to all!



https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/psat-nmsqt-psat-10