Over the past two weeks, we have taken on the most involved STEM challenge we've ever done! We integrated all of our subjects into this project!
- Reading- Drawing conclusions, text evidence, making predictions, Encantado: Pink Dolphin of the Amazon, The Great Kapok Tree
- Writing- Voice, point of view, connecting ideas from multiple sources
- Math- Subtraction, problem solving, multiplication arrays
- Social studies- South american geography
- Science- Ecosystems, layers of the rainforest, conservation
- Technology- basic coding (commands, procedures), LightBot, Notability, StopMotion, Book Creator
- Engineering- the engineering design process
The project began with this introduction video which served to grab the students attention for this project. However, they had no idea what the project would be.
After watching the video, the students looked at the following questions. We used the graffiti model to answer these questions. Each group had a poster with one of the questions. They discussed, brainstormed, and wrote possible answers to each question on their poster and then passed it to the next group until each group had a chance to add to each poster.
- Why do you think the Pink River Dolphin is usually pink but was almost white in Mrs. Reagan's video?
- In what ways are Pink River Dolphins different from dolphins in the ocean?
- What is the Pink River Dolphin's natural habitat like?
- How was the ecosystem affected by the building of the Guri dam? How were people affected?
- What do you think the STEM challenge is going to be?
Next, we read the story of Encantado: Pink Dolphin of the Amazon. This expository nonfiction text help the students gain the background information necessary to move forward with the project!
After reading the text, we passed our graffiti papers again to add the new things we learned and mark out the ideas that were disproven by the text. We were especially interested to learn about the "submerged jungle" that the dolphins live in.
One of the big answers that came out during research was that pink river dolphins actually turn pinker with exercise! Therefore, we inferred that the dolphin in captivity in the opening video probably looked white due to lack of exercise. And with that, the challenge was introduced:
You have been hired by the Venezuelan Wildlife Protection Agency to design an obstacle course for the pink river dolphin to use for exercise in its pool so that it can turn nice and pink again!
The students were given a 12x12 blueprint board to build their tank. They were told they had to leave at least 100 square units open. Therefore, they figured out that 44 units would be filled by the "obstacles" made from cube blocks. After designing their obstacle courses to those requirements, they labeled the arrays made by the blocks.
One of the big answers that came out during research was that pink river dolphins actually turn pinker with exercise! Therefore, we inferred that the dolphin in captivity in the opening video probably looked white due to lack of exercise. And with that, the challenge was introduced:
You have been hired by the Venezuelan Wildlife Protection Agency to design an obstacle course for the pink river dolphin to use for exercise in its pool so that it can turn nice and pink again!
The students were given a 12x12 blueprint board to build their tank. They were told they had to leave at least 100 square units open. Therefore, they figured out that 44 units would be filled by the "obstacles" made from cube blocks. After designing their obstacle courses to those requirements, they labeled the arrays made by the blocks.
Then, things got really interesting! The students learned the basics of computer coding-- giving commands and writing procedures. We practiced this using the LightBot app as well as by "coding" Mrs. Reagan around the room. Why would we need to code? Because we have to program the robotic dolphin that the VWPA requires us to test our obstacle course with to make sure its safe for a real dolphin, of course!
And so they used their coding skills to write code for their own dolphin obstacle courses. We also used a combination of StopMotion, Notability, and Book Creator to make our dolphin move according to the code-- looking just like a dolphin version of LightBot.
Check out one group's "DolphinBot" video!
In closing up this project, we read another story-- The Great Kapok Tree. In the story the rainforest animals each speak to sleeping man who plans to cut down the great tree. They tell how the tree is important to them and the effect that cutting it down would have on their lives.
The students were challenged to combine what they learned from that story with the information from Encantado to write the Pink River Dolphin into the story. The students did a fabulous job writing the dolphin's part and publishing it in ChatterKids.
Check out this student's work!
The students were challenged to combine what they learned from that story with the information from Encantado to write the Pink River Dolphin into the story. The students did a fabulous job writing the dolphin's part and publishing it in ChatterKids.
Check out this student's work!
Because we fell in love with the Pink River Dolphin over the course of the project, we decided to adopt one in order to help protect its natural habitat. The students each donated a dollar of their own money to help us support this little guy!
I think this might just be my favorite STEM-infused project of all times-- and the students' too!