Category Archives: Uncategorized

Astonishing Alarm

Posted on by
Reply

On September, Friday the 13th, students all had a question that left them confused: why was there a fire drill right in the morning? As people were pouring into Heathcote Elementary School, it seemed to be a perfectly fine day. So when the fire alarm went off, the students all thought they were hearing things. When the alarm didn’t stop, students began rushing out the front door. All of the students were confused because since the bell didn’t ring, the school day didn’t actually start so why was there a fire drill? 

When the students all huddled on the sidewalk for a really long time, they realized that this was no joke. The fear in our hearts grew even more when the fire trucks arrived at the front circle. Student Gabriel Telles, a 5th grader says “ when the fire trucks came into the front circle, I felt frightened because there might be a very critical accident.” The Firefighters were dressed like when there was a real fire and they rushed into the school. When a police car showed up at the school, all the students were really frightened.

The cause is still unknown, but most students think that something had caused the smoke detector to go off. Or even worse, a student accidentally pulled the fire alarm and started all this chaos. Student Jonothan Shukovsky, a 5th grader says “ I was talking with my friends when the alarm suddenly goes off. I thought I was hearing things. I was so confused “. Tom Degani, also a 5th grader states that “ I was coming into the front circle when I see all the teachers and students standing outside.  When I see the fire truck and the fire alarm going off, I felt scared and confused.” 

The students of Heathcote were relieved to hear that it was only a false alarm, but Friday the 13th was a confusing and frightening day for the students of Heathcote.

 

Rocketry Blog Post #2: Launching rocket 1

Posted on by
Reply

After producing and planning our rocket, we finally got to launch them in the field. It was a brilliant day. As Ms. Cooper set up the launching machine, I was waiting with joy because my group, the Astros were going first and I was thrilled. The clinometer readers stood at each end of the field as we walked to the launcher.

After we set up the launcher, I started to pump air into our rocket. After I had the right amount of pressure, Sarah shouted ” 10, 9, 8, 7 … 3, 2, 1, Blastoff!” As Greta pressed the launch button, our rocket was fired up into the air. “ Woah!” everyone shouted as our rocket went up and up, way out of the reach of the camera that was taking a video. I was so excited when our rocket pummeled down towards the Earth like it pummeled out of nowhere. When the rocket finally drilled into the ground, I sprinted to our rocket and pulled it out of the dirt.

I was a clinometer reader next and I ran to my spot. ” Yuck!” I shouted as one of my shoes was soaked with mud from the overnight rain. I took my spot and carefully, held up my clinometer and I straightened my arm and as the next rocket took off, I pressed a button and took the readings. 20 feet.

Even though that was only a short moment, it is going to be one of my favorite moments of 5th grade! Our rocket went 138 feet and I was really proud of our rocket and since we had a great success on our first launch, we were really happy.

Maglev Design #2

Posted on by
Reply

Reflection #2

 

Yay! We did it! We used 6 strip magnets, 3 short, 3 long. We placed the magnets on the side and the middle. It finally worked yesterday but it was hard work. Knowing the properties help a lot because you have to know that like poles repel and unlike poles attract. You also need to know how to increase the magnetic field by adding more magnets.

 

What failed along the way was on the first day it totally failed and nothing worked because the magnets were sticking together and there was a space beside the magnets. I learned from the mistake to keep the magnets away and prevent them from flipping over. I changed something by moving the track over so it touches the side.

 

I learned about the EDP. What we learned was that nothing is perfect on The first try. I also learned that the EDP never ends so we have to keep going. It also inspired to keep me going and not giving up so I succeed.

 

I also learned that teamwork is important because you can’t complete anything without teamwork.

 

 

My team working towards success

This is the collage of our process

I love working on our maglev train!