Simple Machines

Through this course, I have discovered "Discovery Boxes" and made my first one titled "Simple Machines." Through this experience I feel that my box has a good start, but still requires a lot of fine tuning before it's released into educational commission.

"Simple Machines" is a neat discovery box that teaches students about the six simple machines (wheel& axle, lever, pulley, inclined plane, screw, wedge). Overall, it is in good shape, but I would like to include more objects. For now, I replaced those objects with pictures of my intentions to serve as place holders.

I really enjoyed this project and plan on using it in my classroom. My box is designed so that the information presented is focused, but the application is broad.

I included different artifacts, that are applicable to the box. Other items may be added/replaced so the students can identify multiple machines coexisting in a single gizmo. I wanted to be able to use this in my own classroom, but also create a product that would be able to be quickly and efficiently applied in different classrooms with compatibility to different educational styles.

GCRTC Workshop

For three sessions we have met with Library Media Specialists and Technology Educators to discuss and plan Discovery Boxes to be implemented in their various classrooms. These educators work with a wide range of age groups (kindergarten through eighth grade) and have come up with creative ideas to adapt and modify Discovery Box topics to meet their varied learners' needs, aptitudes, interests and units of study. Some were even inspired to create a Discovery Box for their own children as an engaging, educational Christmas gift!

Penguins

Creating this first discovery box has been a learning experience. I hope to use it with children in kindergarten or first grade. The challenge was finding text at a low enough reading level that was both interesting enough to include and could have a three dimensional object associated with it. I succeeded in locating six objects and am in search of just two additional. I'll check the Christmas tree ornaments for a small sled and the cat/dog toys for a football. I'm fairly confident I'll be able to do so. My next box will be "polar bears" to use with the same group of children. I'd like to eventually have four different animals to use as a kick off to a research project.

Martin Luther King, Jr.

After learning about Discovery Boxes I was very excited about using this as a way to really interest students to do research. I tried to put myself in the kids shoes and think about what objects might motivate them to want to find out more. I guess, for me, it is similar to what I tell my students about writing....you want to hook the reader. So in the Discovery Box I wanted to put some objects to "hook" the researcher and motivate them to want to find out more about the topic. So I choose to do my Discovery Box about Martin Luther King, Jr. to use with primary students. When the students pull out the black and white checked cloth....I hope this will be the hook they need to find out more. I can't wait to use these and think these will be wonderful resources....especially if we share!

Discover Bears

Bears!? During the past several weeks I have been developing a very special Christmas gift for my daughters. A Discovery box about bears! This discovery box will be a fun and educational gift which should benefit my daughter's problem solving, reading and comprehension and thought synthesis.

The bear box is a hands - on search and discover box on many kinds of bears, and the world they live in. Included are many worksheets and games designed around basic vocabulary geared towards the K - 3 student.



Throughout the development of my first discovery box I can clearly see many levels and degrees of use for discovery boxes. As a technology education teacher I will be able to develop many "mini discovery boxes" for all of our current technology education projects. These Mini boxes will be focused on one of the many engineering, math and or science principles that comprise our projects. (An example would be simple machines as it relates to our engineering of trebuchets and catapults.)

Discovery box building has been, to this point, very rewarding. That said discovery box building is time consuming and addicting. Without hesitation I can say building a discovery box affords you greater understanding of the topic you research , build and discover around.

Greater Capital Region Teacher Center Workshop

A chance to work on Discovery Boxes with technology and library media educators! Jo Lynn and I are impressed with the ideas that our new friends have come up with...you will be hearing from them soon!

Nazareth Hall Elementary 8/21-8/22

Take 20 motivated educators, a principal dedicated to providing professional growth opportunities, and a couple of dozen plastic shoe boxes. What you can end up with is a dynamic, collaborative workshop to create engaging inquiry-based learning experiences for students in grades Pre-K through 5!
Jo Lynn and I really enjoyed meeting the teaching teams from Nazareth, and sharing our experiences creating and using Discovery Boxes with them. As always, we came away with a deep appreciation for the collaborative culture among teachers. Boxes made at Nazareth included a wide range of topics chosen to support grade level curriculum, such as symbols of the U.S., presidential election, several country studies, stars, fire safety, apples, and an author study of E. B. White.

Plants, Plants, and more Plants! Shen Summer Curriculum Workshop

On July 21 and 22, first grade teachers and librarians from Okte and Skano met to create 8 boxes that will serve dual curricular purposes: They will be used to support the Readers Workshop unit on nonfiction features while also supporting the ECC's for first grade life science.
By the end of day two, each participant was ready to share their work with the others. This school year, both first grade teams will have a set of 8 boxes with titles like "Unusual Plants," "Seeds," "Leaves," "Plant Products," and 4 others. We each made sure to include primary source documents with common nonfiction features, such as photos with captions, labeled diagrams, "kinds of" illustrations, etc.

Thanks and welcome to the blog to Susan, Mary Lou, Theresa, Danielle and Nancy!

Erie Canal

The construction of this engineering marvel, the life styles that resulted alongside it and its effect on the western part of the United States are explored in this DB. Information on the economy with the cargo transported and toll system is also touched upon. Because of the content it is intended for 4th grades but could be used by 5th graders and very good 3rd gr.readers. As I mentioned in class I now consider myself a "New Yorker" with all I learned from my own research for this box.

It has been used by a class with positive results I was told. Unfortunately, because I was absent that day, I missed hearing the interchange by students with the clues and objects. I finished with approximately 20 clues and 18 objects; I'm still on the hunt for a few more. A small bridge or arch have proven to be a challenge! And I do have extras of small farm animals and lots of paper money or coins if anyone needs any.
Sandy Russell

Shen Professional Development Workshop 2

Thank you to the second half of the Shen teachers who attended the workshop this past Thursday. It was a pleasure to hear about the creative ways teachers are planning to incorporate Discovery Boxes into their teaching! The labels below represent the boxes these teachers were working on.

Shenendehowa Professional Development Workshop

Thanks to all of the teachers from Skano, Shatekon, Karigon, Orenda and Arrongen that were able to join us this past Friday in the Okte Library Media Center to work on creating your own Discovery Boxes. JoLynn and I always learn so much from you. It was interesting to see the scope of topics being worked on, from the Erie Canal to constellations to spiders. Other topics were penguins, crayfish, seeds and flowers, hatching chicks (lifecycle), birds, moths, plants, frogs, and rainforest. Many of you had well-thought out anticipated applications for your box as well. It would be interesting if you all posted your thoughts and comments on your experience during this part of your Discovery Box journey!