Maglev Trains and Transportation Engineers!

Third graders learned about the latest in train technology.  They became 

Transportation Engineers and designed maglev trains.  Once trains were 

designed, the students tested them.  One engineer's design was immediately 

successful, but other engineers needed to figure out what to do to make their 

trains successful.  They persevered.  They brainstormed and tried out new ideas.  

Then SUCCESS!  Great thinking and great technical work third graders! 

Ask a third grader about maglev trains.  What are they?  How fast can they go?
Would maglevs be a good mode of transportation/travel?  Why or why not?

Working on designs!

No wheels?  Just magnets?  

Follow this link to learn more about maglev trains - or ask a

third grader to explain how they work.   

http://science.howstuffworks.com/transport/29341-extreme-engineering-maglev-train-video.htm

Nora tests her maglev train.

Eli tests his maglev train.

Jack tests his maglev train.

Paige tests her maglev train.

Eliot's Flat Stanley Returns!

Eliot's Flat Stanley just returned from a lengthy trip abroad.

He visited London, Spain, and Dubai.  

Local lakes in Dubai are made by ocean water that is desalinized.  

To learn about this amazing process follow this link.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desalination

Paige's Flat Hannah!

Paige's Flat Hannah returned from her trip to Saranac Lake. 

She had a great time seeing the ice castle at the Saranac

Lake Winter Carnival.  She also had fun in the snow and

even got to hang out with some goats!  

Third Graders Learn About Bird Banding!

Students from the Diversified Occupations Program at the 

Hannaford Career Center spent time teaching third and fourth graders 

about bird banding.  Students had the chance to observe a variety
 of real birds, make their own band, and learn how birds enter and 
are removed from a "mist net" in order to be banded and have other data  
recorded.  Follow the link below to check out the D. O. webpage and 
watch a video about the students and their amazing work.

http://doprogram.org/?page_id=54

Checking out and working to identify the birds!

Learning about types of bands and banding,

and making human bands!

Learning about the "mist net,"

how birds enter it, and how to 

safely remove a bird from the net.

Learning about the

 Bal Chatri pronounced "ball-SHOT-ree" 

is a trap designed to catch birds of prey.

Mrs. Hackett Guesses Who's Who in a Kindergarten Photo!

Just for fun!  Third graders challenge Mrs. Hackett 

to name the third graders present in an old kindergarten photo! 

Engineer of the Week - Eli!

Eli shared many fine items: 

Teeth he "lost" and evidently "found."  

A dagger he and his dad carved! 

An adorable passport photo!   

"Dazzle" - the first word Eli learned to spell.  

And who wouldn't just love a "Strawberry"

 a.k.a. the bear, with a crispy ear!

Eli shares "Dazzle" with the class!

 Eli's lunch guests:  Mom, Dad, and Gramma!

Professional Photography!!! Thanks to Ben!

A huge thanks to Ben for taking these awesome photos! 

Enlarged copies were made for Molly and me!

Of course, the goofy photo!

Grand Friends' Luncheon!

Several Grand Friends braved the weather in order to

have lunch with a third grader.  

The guests even joined in on a few rounds of the math game

"Guess My Number"

They did a good job!

Naomi and her grandmother!

 Jack and his friend, Dad!

John and his grandmother!

Eli and his grandfather!

Eliot and his grandmother - and his brother and sister!

Nora and her grandmother!

Welcome Arianna!

Welcome Arianna!

Arianna is doing a teaching internship and

will be spending each Wednesday morning with us.

Arianna loves to write and loves to play basketball!  

Maybe she'll share some of her writing and some ball handling skills :-)

 Of course!  The silly face photo is a must!