Month of December 2019

Enrichment teams were all able to complete the challenge of building a bridge.  Students used craft sticks, clothespins, chenille wires, Q-tips, and tape to make a bridge that could support the most weight.  Students tested their bridges using candy corn pumpkins to test the weight or capacity load their bridge could hold.  Students worked in teams of two and were able to successfully construct bridges that held between 12 and 61 pumpkins!  Congratulations to all the students on their achievement!

Our Fourth Grade K’Nex Competition Team has been working on different K’Nex structures to learn about engineering with these unique building toys and brainstorming ideas for the challenge.  They have narrowed the choice down to four:  a railroad that powers nearby lights; a system for turning off household lights when no one is in the room; a treadmill that powers breakfast appliances (toast, etc.), a fish tank that generates its own power to run the pump and lights, and also feed the fish; and an amusement park ferris wheel that runs on wind power and also powers nearby attractions.  Don’t forget the team will be competing against other local schools on March 17, 2020 for a chance to compete at the state tournament in Harrisburg in May.

Students in grades 4 through 6 will be eligible to participate in the North Schuylkill Elementary Math 24 Challenge Tournament scheduled for the end of January.  Anyone interested in the opportunity to qualify as a member of the Challenge Team should be practicing now whenever possible.  Homeroom teachers have decks of cards students can use to practice, and there are also apps available at little to no cost that allow students to practice on their own on a smart phone or tablet.  The top ten finishers from NSE will travel to the Schuylkill Intermediate Unit in Pottsville on May 19^th to compete against students from other local school districts.

As always, please contact me with any questions or concerns at nnestor@northschuylkill.net or at 570-874-3661 Ext. 3332.