Happy Father's Day!

Summer fun and learning idea: USS Hornet, Alameda, CA

I promised students that I would post some ideas for summer fun and learning.  My first post is about the USS Hornet aircraft carrier in Alameda, CA.  A few days ago, on Father's Day, my family visited the USS Hornet for the program, "Salute to Dad!"  They had a special BBQ and Magic Show and it was living ship day so my son was allowed to ride an aircraft elevator.

The Aircraft Carrier is open most days, but the next family event is the 4th of July Celebration.  We've been to this event and it felt very patriotic.  They will have patriotic events,  food, games, and even a live concert.  There will even be kids' games, a bounce house, and free pinball machines.

For parents, on the hangar deck from 2:00PM until 8:00PM the band Golden Gate Harmony, a cappella barbershop quartet will play.

The view is amazing, but dress warm as it can get very chilly in Alameda!

Information:

USS Hornet
Alameda, CA

website:  www.HornetEvents.com

phone:  (510)  521- 8448

Note:  My father was in the navy for three years working on planes in Alameda on this very base, so it is so much fun to talk about family history on the aircraft carrier with my son!

Invention Convention Overview

Our Invention Convention unit introduced students to the inventive process.  The students:  

• Brainstormed potential inventions, including through the use of the scientific method; 
• Learned the difference between a prototype/model and a final invention/product, which can take substantial expertise and years to build; 
• Learned the importance to the inventive process of building a prototype; 
• Itemized the materials necessary to build a prototype/model; 
• Conceptualized the invention by assessing whether or not they could create a prototype, refining the inventions along the way; 
• Described the invention in words, which is important to filing a patent application; 
• Articulated the purpose of their invention; 
• Created a blueprint/sketch of the invention; 
• Built a prototype/model.

 Our blog chronicles these steps, and you can find pictures of our Invention Convention displays in our latest posts below. 

Invention Convention Reflections

Following are pictures of our final Invention Convention displays.  We are also posting the students’ reflections about their inventions and the inventive process.  Their reflections included a short discussion of what they did and did not like about the process of creating their prototypes.  They also reflected on what they might do differently if they were to re-make their prototypes.

Invention Convention 2013 Photos

 

Lego Hotel (ZL)

I built a Lego Hotel for the Invention Convention.  I enjoyed building the Lego Hotel because my grandmother liked it.  It took me a long time to build it, and I like building with Legos.  It was easy because we have a box full of Legos.  It was also hard because I forgot to put glue on the Legos to keep them together.  If I had to rebuild my prototype, I would use building blocks instead of Legos.  I liked doing this project.

The Amazing Translating Dictionary (VG & LR)

We made the Amazing Translating Dictionary.  What we liked about our invention was that it was fun building it.  We like doing arts and crafts.  We think our invention was creative and colorful.  The invention could help other people to communicate.

What we would do differently is that we would add other languages, like Mandarin or German.  We would also add another headphone so two people can use it.