Mrs. Fassero's classes used knowledge of science to make their getaway from a Halloween escape room. Pictured are the students who made it out in the nick of time.
This week, Ms. Anderson kicked off the exciting new class, Computer Science for Innovators and Makers (IM). This class is part of a program made possible by a grant received last year, and it's designed to help students explore the fascinating world of computer science.
In the first week, they looked at the different components they will be using throughout the course. These parts include sensors and actuators that allow us to create systems that can interact with the physical world around us. (micro-bits).
One of the key ideas discussed is that programming is not just about writing code on a computer. Instead, it extends into the real world! Learning how to design algorithms and use computational thinking to solve problems. Students will have the chance to code and upload programs to microcontrollers. These small devices can perform various tasks, making projects come to life. This class will help students understand important computer science concepts through hands-on applications. Students are excited to see what innovative projects everyone will create as they learn and grow in this class!
Pictured is a student holding a micro bit.
In Ms. Anderson's STEM class, students are diving into the exciting world of Computer-Aided Design (CAD). CAD is a powerful tool that helps designers create detailed drawings and models of objects. This week, students are using CAD to design their very own name plates!
A name plate is a small sign that displays a person's name or title. It can be used for desks, doors, or any place where you want to show who you are! The name plates must meet specific dimensions, which will help students understand how to work with measurements in design. This project is a stepping stone for future design projects where students will create parts for bigger projects. This name plate project is not just about making something cool; it helps students develop important skills for their future. Understanding how to use CAD and work with dimensions is crucial for anyone interested in engineering, architecture, or design. By the end of this project, students will have a better grasp of CAD and be more prepared for their future design projects. Plus, they’ll have a personalized name plate to showcase their hard work!
Last week, Mrs. Anderson's 8th grade science classes took on an exciting challenge: designing and building their own roller coasters! This project helped them learn about two important concepts in physics: **kinetic energy** and **potential energy**. Students began by brainstorming ideas for their roller coasters. They had to think about:
- The shape of the track
- The height of the hills (which affects potential energy)
- The speed of the cars (which relates to kinetic energy)
Next, each group created a budget for their roller coaster. They had to consider:
- Materials needed (like cardboard, tape, and marbles)
- Costs associated with each material
- Staying within a set budget to ensure their project was realistic
After building their roller coasters, it was time to test them! Students released marbles down their tracks to see how well their designs worked. They observed how height and speed affected the marble's movement.
This week, the fun continued in the STEM lab with several engaging activities:
Students used the Z-Space machine to experience virtual reality (VR). They learned about the engineering and design process in a hands-on way. Using Oculus machines, students took a thrilling VR ride on a roller coaster. Students also worked with Sphero robots. They coded the Sphero to travel along a roller coaster track they created. Each Sphero made different sounds depending on which part of the roller coaster it was on, adding an auditory element to their project. Finally, each student created an animated slide show of their roller coaster using their Chromebooks. They had to download their presentations as videos, showcasing their designs and what they learned about kinetic and potential energy. Through this roller coaster project, Mrs. Anderson's students not only learned about energy but also developed skills in design, budgeting, coding, and presentation. It was a fantastic way to combine science and creativity!
In our recent science classes, Mrs. Reindl introduced an exciting project where we got to work with spheros! These are small, robotic balls that we can control using code. Our challenge was to program the spheros to navigate through a food web. We learned how to use block coding, which is a way to write programs using blocks that represent different commands. This makes it easier to understand how coding works! We used the block coding to give commands to the spheros. This included moving forward, turning, and even changing colors! To make our spheros more exciting, we learned how to add lights and sounds to our programs. This made our spheros not only move through the food web but also light up and make noise! Our goal was to navigate the spheros through a model of a food web. We had to think carefully about the path we wanted them to take, representing how energy flows from one organism to another. This coding project with spheros was not only fun but also helped us learn important concepts in science and technology. We got to combine our knowledge of ecosystems with our new coding skills, making learning interactive and exciting!
Today, Mrs. Salmon's and Mrs. Fassero's 7th-grade science classrooms teamed up for an exciting event in the Hot Spot! We had a special guest from "Ag in the Classroom" who helped us with a fun hands-on project: designing and building Pumpkin Catapults! After each launch, we measured how far the pumpkins traveled. This project was not only fun but also a great way to learn about engineering and physics. We discovered how different designs affected the distance our pumpkins traveled. Working together in teams helped us develop our collaboration skills and think creatively.
Ms. McChristy's 5th grade completed a haunted pumpkin patch escape room! They had to complete a variety of activities to escape and enjoyed completing the escape room!!
Miss Sharrow’s fifth grade class has been exploring history hands-on! Our students have been hard at work creating models of Native American homes. This project consisted of a nature walk to gather materials, researching the home they chose to build, and working as a team to build their structure. Great work!
"TJHS 7th grade Art students working with plaster to create Day of the Dead masks."
Taylorville Whitetails Unlimited donated 6 new targets to the junior high PE program. The new targets are commercial grade and used in youth competitions across the country.
The students at the junior high love the archery units and these new targets are a much needed upgrade for what we have been using for years.
We want to thank Josh Asad and Dennis Crowder from Powder Keg for helping do the leg work on finding the perfect targets!
TJHS 8th grade Art students working with wire and plaster to create their own versions of Jack Skellington"
Items will be distributed to TCUSD #3 students the week of Nov 11...Thank you in advance!!!
David McCreary "Relevant Speakers Network" came to TJHS to share with our students and staff about his mission to share the secret of how to truly Live More. David shared moments from his life that made an impact on how he views time. He posited that today is someone in the futures past that they will one day regret. He challenged our kids to be better and do better, as well as to learn to laugh along with others. His comedy and magic tricks were a welcome break for us all. Thanks for the message David and thank you to our Student Council for sponsoring these opportunities to take a positve message school-wide.
The TJHS Spooktacular Fall Concert is tonight beginning at 7 pm--be there or beware....ooooh, ahhhh, ooooh...
More pictures of Mrs. Reber's 6th grade class codiing spheros. In Mrs. Reber's 6th grade science class, Mrs. Reindl visited to teach students about coding using spheros, which are fun, robotic balls that can be programmed to move, light up, and make sounds. This exciting activity allowed students to combine science and technology while learning important coding concepts. Mrs. Reindl explained that in both coding and science experiments, it’s important to change only one variable at a time. This means if you want to see how a change affects the Sphero's movement, you should only adjust one thing, like speed or direction, instead of changing everything at once. The students learned how to give commands to the spheros. They practiced coding to:
- Move: Control the direction and speed of the spheros.
- Light Up: Change the colors of the spheros to make them look cool.
- Make Sounds: Program the spheros to play different sounds while they moved. This hands-on coding experience with spheros not only made science fun but also helped students understand the importance of variables in both coding and scientific experiments. They left the class excited about technology and eager to learn more!
TJHS Parent/Teacher Conferences Reminder: if you are having trouble scheduling your conference please call us ar 824-4924 and we will be happy to assist!
Thurs, Oct 24 from 11-3 pm and 4-7 pm
Fri, Oct 25 from 8-11 am
More pictures of students in Mrs. Curtin's JH PE class enjoying the new target!
Mrs. Curtin's class enjoying the new target JH PE class!
Good morning from TJHS!
Enjoy another high five Friday and the pics that go with it!! Have a great weekend!!!
The students of Taylorville Junior High School are proud to honor the veterans in our community with a Veterans Day Breakfast on Monday, November 4, 2024.
Reservations can be made through the district website, or by calling the office at (217) 824 - 4924 and asking for Ms. Moutrey. Please RSVP by Friday, November 1.
