Little Bird won SWEDU2017

 Startup Weekend EDU 2017 runs this weekend at Roots Elementary. About 100 teachers, entrepreneurs, wantopreneurs, school administrative and others who are interested in improving education participated. About 25 ideas pitched, about 13 team formed to work on the project.

Little bird a team that works on SpEd teachers and parents reminder program, won first place. To learn more about it, you can find us on twitter #swedu2017
https://twitter.com/search?q=%23sweduden&src=typd

Jeweler badge for Girl Scouts Parker Troops Colorado

About 20 Juniors from four different troops got together in Parker to work on their “Junior Jeweler” badge. Ms. C from Troop 1996 hosted the event. 

Conny Karman, a self-taught jewelry artist and past troop leader/volunteer lead the event. Armed with safety goggles, a hammer, and pliers, the girls worked on five projects. 

They stamped metal jewelry, caged and wrapped jewelry, learned about birthstones, and made a sparkling box to keep their new jewelry. The event lasted about 2.5 hours. There were 2-3 parent helpers on each session. 

If you are interested in hosting an event, please contact info@ideaitlab.com.

http://gscoblog.org/2017/04/parker-troops-work-to-earn-junior-jeweler-badge/

C3DO, Connected 3D Objects

Is that a house? Yup. That's a house on the edge of river. We are exploring erosion experiments. But it's not any kind of experiment. We are developing digital stream table for elementary schools, based on NGSS. Teachers, we would like to help you save time.

Please visit our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/Connected3DObjects/

Jewelry for teens activity at Anythink Library

Looking for great gifts for the Holidays or just want to try how to make a jewelry? Join IDEA it Lab, at Anythink Library Perl Mack, Dec 3, 2016.

We'll be exploring metal stamping, caged or wrapped jewelry.

To register, please go to Anythingk Library website https://www.anythinklibraries.org/events/art-kids-and-teens-making-jewelry-idea-it-lab

C3DO, One of The Imaginarium Design Contest Winner 2016

C3DO ( Connected 3D Object) won Imaginarium Design Challenge 2016. C3DO created digital hands-on tools, connected using blue tooth to computer, so students can do experiments and see the result in a computer. Currently, C3DO is focusing on science. If you are a teacher, who would like to have a pilot in your classroom, please contact us, info(at0ideaitlab (dot) com

Best coffee comes in small packages...

Coffee... it has becomes a commodity where everyone can make it. We found a special coffee that it's worth backing. Opal Coffee is running an Indiegogo campaign at https://igg.me/at/opalcoffeeco
Other that it's taste great, you can feel good for supporting a women owned small business. If you are on the fence, this is the only chance to try it. Don't delay or forever hold your peace...:). Please support it now...

Paper geodesic dome activity, an idea for teachers or summer enrichment activity.

Inspired by our last posting on plastic straw geodesic dome, we decided to build a kid size geodesic dome from paper.
In my experience, it's very helpful to build straw model. I keep revering back to the model when building the kids size one. This is a great exercise for kids to learn to make a model before making a real size.
Here what we did.

Tools: Masking tape, paper punch, brads, measuring tape, markers, scissors and really strong hands.
Materials: 130 pieces of really large paper.

1. Roll them to a thin pipes, tape them tight. Make a total of 65 pipes.
2. Measure 35 paper pipes to 71 cm, and 30 paper pipes 63 cm.
3. Cut them to size and group the according to the size. We will call them long and short.
4. Lay down 10 long pipes.

5. Get two long pipes and two short pipes and put them on each connections. Form triangles as pictured and connect the "base" of the triangle using brads and paper punch.
6. Get three short pipes and connect those to the short triangle. I see an imaginary "pentagon" forming. Please see picture.

7. OK.. now it gets a bit challenging. Get 4 longs and 1 shorts and connect those to the top of the top of the "pentagon".  You can refer to the second picture of this blog to help visualize. http://bigibdesigns.blogspot.com/2014/12/winter-break-activity-build-geodesic.html
8. As you connecting the pentagon and the hexabon, the dome will start to form. I use brass brad to connect because it will allow the pipe to rotate. Prop them up with chairs or get more kids to help.
 

9. Connect the top 5 short pipes together. After about total 3 hours ( excluding the paper rolling), we have a pretty sturdy dome that is great for kids or adults (kids at heart) to play.

Teachers, if you have a limited time to work, I'd recommend making a straw model. Then if you have time, then probably it's fun to make a kids size dome.
Reflections:
1. You can relate this with grit.
2. You can relate this with math. ( ratio, geometry, measuring)
3. You can relate this with the strongest shape in geometry ( triangle)
4. You can relate this with creativity, try to think outside the box. You can tell a story that you stranded in an island, can can only find short sticks and you need to make a shelter.
5. For moms, I think this is a fun activity together... Would you agree?