Month of January 2020

Enrichment teams have been learning about the cold.  Where is the coldest place on Earth?  Antarctica – not surprising!  But we learned some surprising facts about the cold.  Did you know that there are places so cold that hotels can be built of ice?  We also learned about some cool STEM activities that students can try out at home.  Ask them how to make an outdoor candle holder out of ice!

Our Fourth Grade K’Nex Competition Team has decided on building an amusement park Ferris Wheel that runs on wind power and also powers nearby attractions to meet this year’s K’Nex STEM Design Challenge.  The students are currently working on two different designs for a Ferris Wheel.  They will determine the best parts of each to incorporate into their final design.  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.  Students in Grade 4 with no experience playing Math 24 were given an opportunity to play the game during part of one of their math classes this month.  Many are excited to participate in the tournament currently scheduled for the last week of January 2020.  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.