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1st grade SIMPLE MACHINES COMPLEX MINDS

12/12/2014

1 Comment

 
I love the music videos that OKGO makes, I've already shown three different ones to the students this year.

I also showed this video of students creating six different Rube Goldberg-inspired networks.  (Rube Goldberg was the engineering master of simple machine networks)

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I love the topic of simple machines and so glad that the 1st grade students spend so much time learning about them.  To bring together science and art, I've created this project that I call "SIMPLE MACHINES, COMPLEX MINDS."

To begin the project, I show them OKGO's music video "This too shall pass."

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The first graders loved both of these videos and as they watch them I hear many gasps and giggles.


After the students watched the videos and I reiterated what a simple machine is, we got down to the nitty gritty of making artwork :)

They began this project by choosing a sillhouetted profile template that was most like them and tracing around the outside.  Each student had to make at least one change to the design so that it looked more like them.  Many students chose to alter the hair. 
As they create a personalized silhouette of themselves, we discussed how our thoughts and ideas are all very unique, and very complex.  We are all individual, interesting people.  Each of us has ideas and processes them differently.  That is where the "complex minds" portion of this project comes in.  
To symbolize an idea, the students each began this project by drawing a lightbulb inside of their head.
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From the lightbulb, the students each designed a unique network of simple machines to represent their complex minds and how they all thing and process ideas differently.

We did our drawings with black Sharpie, and afterwards used neon watercolors to paint it in.
These turned out so amazing and it was awesome to watch the students get really involved and excited about the network of simple machines that they were creating.  It was so much fun to walk around and have the students explain exactly what was going on 'inside of their head.'
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1 Comment
Karen Swedan
12/15/2014 01:04:56 am

Love this idea!

Reply



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