Infotech with Mr. Losik

Report and Predict the Weather with EdHeads

2012-01-16T17:05:00.000-08:00

In Michigan the weather can change in an instant. Use these fun exercises from EdHeads to report the weather and predict it. When you are finished, explore all of the other great things EdHeads has to offer.

Explore Word World at PBSkids.org

2012-01-08T13:01:00.000-08:00

Explore the amazing Word World as seen on PBSkids.org.

Use online resources to improve your health habits.

2012-01-05T12:30:00.000-08:00

There are many helpful tools online that can help you assess whether you are using healthy eating habits.

It is amazing how our calorie intake can really stack up if we don't pay attention to it.

Be a healthy, active kid and enjoy a treat once in a while. Just make sure you are building healthy habits that will last you a lifetime.

Webmd.com's Food-o-Meter is one place to start. Also check out Calorieking.com.

No elementary kid should be thinking about dieting, just about being smart about what is going into his or her body food-wise.

iMovie Help from Apple

2012-01-04T06:41:00.000-08:00

Visit Apple's iMovie site to learn more about how to perform all kinds of great editing techniques with iMovie.

Video Tutorials

Reflections on how iPads are impacting learning

2011-11-23T12:57:00.001-08:00

Click to visit this Glog.

First Thanksgiving Webquest

2011-11-20T16:41:00.001-08:00

Take the webquest and learn all you can about the First Thanksgiving at Scholastic.com.

Field Trip to Plimouth Plantation

2011-11-20T16:26:00.001-08:00

Take a virtual field trip to Plimouth Plantation for the First Thanksgiving.

Explore the village by clicking through the photos with Scholastic's site.

VIP Day at Bentheim Elementary School

2011-11-04T10:47:00.001-07:00

Nothing better than watching young kids (4 and 5 year olds in this case) teach older people about their technology skills.

Second Graders show off their Pumpkin Animation

2011-10-31T08:33:00.000-07:00

Our second graders have been working hard to animate talking pumpkins in KidPix for the last three weeks.

Check out their awesome work.

Mrs. Sanders Class - Blue Star

Mrs. Berens Class - Blue Star

Mrs. VanOmmen and Mrs. Geerts' Class - Bentheim

Mrs. Geukes' Class - Bentheim

Fraboom!

2011-10-17T10:45:00.000-07:00

This place is pretty neat to visit. Enjoy yourself, but don't get lost inside that you forget to have other fun...like outside, or with a book.

Visit Fraboom, The Online Children's Museum.

Goodbye Mr. Jobs, our Thomas Edison, our Henry Ford

2011-10-05T19:38:00.000-07:00

We must remember the work of Apple founder Steve Jobs, not because in Hamilton we use the computers his company makes.

We remember Mr. Jobs because of the way he taught us all to think...to think differently and not be afraid to celebrate our ideas, even when they didn't succeed.

Steve Jobs didn't always succeed, but when he failed he never quit dreaming and he never quit trying. Never quit dreaming kids. Never quit trying.

The Top 10 Things Steve Jobs Taught Us - Forbes Magazine

Learn the Basics of Innovation with EdHeads

2011-09-19T16:43:00.000-07:00

We have used Edheads to replace hips and forecast the weather. Now use it develop a new kind of cell phone for senior citizens.

Check out EdHeads' Cell Phone design project and learn to research, design, test, and sell an innovative kind of cell phone that will appeal to the most people.

EdHeads Cell Phone Design Activity.

Understanding the United States Bill of Rights

2011-09-16T06:12:00.000-07:00

As we celebrate living in a country with such an amazing Constitution, use Wikipedia's easy to understand description of the United States Bill of Rights. or try Constitution for Kids.

Summer Library Activities: Take a reading road trip

2011-06-07T11:38:00.000-07:00

Whether you will be visiting the Bentheim Library this summer or the combined Blue Star - Hamilton Elementary summer program at Hamilton El., these are great activities to help make reading fun.

Take a reading road trip:

National Parks links from Education World
Travel budget calculator
Learn about the 50 states: Armadillos to Yellowhammers
Kidsgeo.com
Weekly Reader Geography Game
Native American Groups Exploration

2011-06-03T07:11:00.001-07:00

I surveyed my 5th graders to find out what their all-time favorite activities have been since beginning Infotech in Kindergarten with me.

We used a Google Form and then various classes took turns sorting all of the data returned.

The landslide runaway winner was Google Apps. The interesting thing about this is that they have only had access since this Fall. As a district staff we were wondering if this would make an impact. It’s pretty safe to say that it has.

Here is the full list.

Getting to Know Mr. Losik

2011-06-03T06:40:00.001-07:00

20 sites for downloading free E-books

2011-06-03T02:58:00.000-07:00

Whether you have a Nook, a Kindle, an iPad, or an iPod Touch you can find lots of great books to download for free.

Here is a link to a site that links fo 20 more sites where you can find lots of great FREE summer reading.

20 Best Free E-Book websites from Save/Delete

Try out Fidgit

2011-05-25T19:18:00.000-07:00

PBSkids.org has a new building challenge called Fidgits.

Give it a spin and figure out all of the challenges.

Click here to start.

5th grade Top 5

2011-05-17T06:05:00.001-07:00

Hamilton Helping Hamilton

2011-05-04T10:56:00.000-07:00

Hamilton Helping Hamilton

Promote Your Page Too

Facebook is for users 13+ but is a great way to connect community.

In one of the largest tornado outbreaks in American history, the town of Hamilton, Alabama was hit hard. Hamilton Elementary School website | Flickr gallery of damage

Our community of Hamilton, Michigan is reaching out to the small southern community by collecting the following items through Friday May 13.

canned food
underwear of all sizes
school supplies
solar light
tents
garbage bags
garbage cans
small plastic bottles
work gloves
sterile gloves
bandages
plastic storage totes
paper cups
paper plates
utensils
sun block
sun glasses
rags
two-cycle engine oil
duct tape
clear tape
electrical tape
rain ponchos

Items or checks payable to the American Red Cross may be dropped off at Bentheim Elementary (map), Blue Star Elementary (map), and the Hamilton Community Schools administration office (map) 8AM to 4PM on May 4th, 5th, and then May 9th to 13th.

Please contact Andy Losik for more information or if you have further questions.

There is a World to explore at Dragon Fly TV!

2011-04-19T08:04:00.000-07:00

Here is a great new resource full of learning videos....and yes....a few games. It is called Dragon Fly TV and is now on PBS.

Use the site to watch many of the videos on demand online.

A Google A Day will make you a super searcher.

2011-04-12T02:41:00.000-07:00

Google has a new search puzzle called "A Google a Day".

You are given a clue and based on the information in the one clue you must solve the question posed. Google calls it a "trivia contest where Google is allowed".

It's not just some random bit of knowledge learning. Google a Day teaches you how to learn some baseline knowledge from the information in the clue and then build upon that knowledge to reach the final answer.

Can you solve today's question?

Give Google a Day a try.

Explore the Google Sketchup 3D Warehouse

2011-04-11T10:26:00.000-07:00

There are all kinds of amazing 3D models waiting for you to explore and build upon in the Google Sketchup 3D Warehouse. You can explore famous places and objects, real and make believe.

Begin exploring today.

Pondering your Presentations

2011-03-15T11:07:00.000-07:00

It's not a question of "Are you going to college?" but a question of "Where are you going to college?"

2011-03-15T05:56:00.000-07:00

Michigan has many great colleges and universities that offer students all kinds of opportunities.

Below is a list from 2008 that names the institutions, lists enrollment, and gives tuition costs. There is also a link to the most current numbers.

Pick 2 schools and in the form below, name the colleges and give the numbers from 3 years ago and today. Mentally figure out how much things have changed in three years.

You must be planning now, because the next 7 years will fly right by you. You have to be ready. Don't let money keep you from your dreams. There are all kinds of ways to fund your future. The world's future depends on what you do with yours.

College list 2008

2011 Michigan College Guide

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Build a Bridge at Toy Theater

2011-02-27T05:54:00.001-08:00

There are all kinds of great learning activities at ToyTheater.com. The Bridge Builder is just one of them.

Give it a try and see how it comes to other building projects we have used.

Give Incredibots a spin

2011-01-31T12:50:00.000-08:00

There are a number of great physics based games online, but not many are as challenging when it comes to using the real-life laws of the universe to make things go as Incredibots 2 is.

Follow the tutorial stages and soon you will be a master.

First Grade Winter Fun

2011-01-28T10:45:00.001-08:00

Here are some first grade beginning writing pictures mashed up with Animoto.com. Great job kids!

Mrs. Vruggink's Class - Blue Star Elementary

Mrs. Reilly's Class - Blue Star Elementary

Miss Cummings' Class - Bentheim Elementary

Mrs. Koops' Class - Bentheim Elementary

What is the Internet? Thing #1

2010-12-10T10:56:00.000-08:00

For the rest of the year, we will be letting the geniuses at Google teach us 20 things about Internet browsers and the web.

Here is Thing #1: What is the Internet? Give it a read and feel free to read on when you are finished.

Using the Doodle Tool in Kerpoof

2010-12-01T16:42:00.000-08:00

Please get some headphones, and then watch this video on how to add your own objects to a Kerpoof picture.

Then click here to go to Kerpoof and doodle away. Click on "Make a Picture" and get creating your own characters for your scene.

Turkey Terminator

2010-11-23T17:29:00.000-08:00

Throw pies to get turkeys ready for Thanksgiving. When you run out of pies, answer the fractions question to get more. How many turkeys can you terminate in two minutes?

Click here to begin.

Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!

2010-11-21T09:01:00.000-08:00

Okay, okay! Maybe not for real yet, but you can have fun building your own snowman online right now. Check out the new Snowman Builder I just found...well actually Mrs. Losik found it.

Build on!

Moon Shots, Rescues, and More

2010-10-14T06:30:00.000-07:00

Okay 4th graders, you are learning lots about the Moon, the sun, the Earth, and how they all relate to each other.

Try out each of these great activities to help you deepen your understanding.

•Gravity Launch

•Planetary Rescue Squad

•Go the Head of the Solar System

Are you happy?

2010-10-05T11:22:00.000-07:00

I love this poster! This is all there is to being happy in life kids! Keep it simple.

This poster was created by Alex Koplin.

Kerpoof.com is Awesome

2010-10-03T09:34:00.000-07:00

Visit Kerpoof to build your own art, stories, and movies. Not only is it a great creativity tool, you may save your work and send it to friends.

Exploring the Interactives

2010-09-20T18:30:00.000-07:00

Please visit the 3-6 Student Interactives and find your favorite math site and your favorite science site to share.

Once you have spent some time on the first one, come back to this page and fill out the form. Submit it and then go find your second site. Come back again and fill out the form for your second site.

By doing this, we will be able to find out what sites are ones you want to use more.

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Celebrating the Constitution. What do you love about America?

2010-09-16T07:13:00.000-07:00

September 17 is Constitution Day and it is important to celebrate one of the greatest documents ever written.

Without it we wouldn't be able to share our ideas freely and our world would not be as we know it.

In the comment area below share what you love about the rights and protections you get from the Constitution.

When you are finished, have fun with these games from the Bill of Rights Institute.

Exploring Michigan Lighthouses

2010-09-15T09:04:00.000-07:00

Here we go 3rd graders. We are off to explore the lighthouses that ring our state and light the Great Lakes.

Begin by finding the lighthouse you want to study at BoatNerd.com's Lighthouse page or NortherMichigan.com's "Michigan Lighthouses" page.

If you can't find enough information there, give "The Lighthouses of Michigan" page a look.

Find pictures of your lighthouse by exploring Flickr.com.

Photo above from Flickr user BernadetteAnn.

Tinkering with Tinker Ball

2010-06-01T08:16:00.000-07:00

Have fun exploring Tinker Ball. You can learn a lot and express your creativity at the same time thanks to Lemelson Center's "Invention at Play".

Get tinkering.

Who da Man? Hooda Math!

2010-05-11T07:32:00.000-07:00

Big thanks today go out to Mr. Michael Edlavitch for sharing his website Hooda Math.

The site features math videos, lessons and how-to explanations, games, and worksheets.

Also give the sister site: Hooda Word a look.

Visit South Africa's Djuma Reserve with WildEarth.tv

2010-05-10T05:51:00.000-07:00

Explore more of Africa with a visit to the WildEarth.TV website.

Don't just Google it! Try out these 10 search engines

2010-05-03T02:20:00.000-07:00

Jonathon Wylie and Elizabeth Wystrom just published an interesting article at Bright Hub where they listed the "Top 10 Search Engines for Kids". Read the article and then give each one a spin to see which one is the best fit for you.

Sortfix.com
FactMonster.com
Middlespot.com
AskKids.com
Google.com
PrimarySchoolICT.com
QuinturaKids.com
KidsClick.org
Yahoo Kids
Wolfram Alpha

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Find the Best of the Web

2010-04-19T09:57:00.000-07:00

Infotech with Mr. Losik has over 5 years of great sites linked and ready for learning.

Watch this video to better understand the four main ways you can find older activities.

Shell Identification Guide

2010-04-16T05:48:00.000-07:00

Did you go to Florida for spring break or on a recent vacation? Did you haul back half of a beach worth of shells with you?

Use this guide from SanibelFlorida.com to help you better understand more about those sandy treasures.

You can also try this guide that shows shells found from North Carolina all of the way around Florida to Texas

After you find the correct name, visit these links to find out more about their creation:

WikiAnswers: How are seashells created?
Seashell - Wikipedia

Ducksters Geography

2010-03-22T05:56:00.000-07:00

Ducksters is a very helpful website for finding facts about all kinds of places and things.

The Ducksters Geography section is especially helpful for learning about places all over the World. Use the US Geography section to learn more about the United States or the main geography section to learn facts about any other part of the World.

Spelling City is great!

2010-03-19T09:55:00.000-07:00

I haven't found a free website that can do so much for learning spelling words.

Just type in your spelling words and choose "teach me", "test me", or "play games".

Get to work.

Surf Swell on Surf Swell Island

2010-03-08T10:57:00.001-08:00

Head off with Mickey and the gang to Surf Swell Island where you can learn and practice important rules for staying safe while online.

Start the journey.

Also, visit Phineas and Ferb and review their Cybersafety Rules of the Road.

Simple Typing Practice

2010-03-01T13:31:00.000-08:00

See how long you can last in this simple but effective typing tutor. Efficiency is the only way to stay alive.

Do this activity on its own page

Lots to Learn from ABCya!

2010-02-24T06:35:00.001-08:00

There is always something fun to learn at ABCya!

The site is organized by grade level K-5 and has tons of activities for every elementary age kid.

Internet Safety with Garfield

2010-02-22T12:01:00.000-08:00

Let Professor Garfield help you understand all of the important ways to stay safe while online.

Visit the Professor Garfield, Internet Safety and You website to watch, try, and apply thee very necessary skills.

The Olympics are Here

2010-02-11T05:40:00.001-08:00

The Olympics open up tomorrow night and West Michigan's Mark Grimmette will carry the United States flag into the stadium. (Picture from NBCOlympics.com)

The Internet is the best way to track all of the action.

Check out these websites:
Official Olympic Sites
Official Team USA site
NBC Olympics
Canadian Olympic coverage from CBC

Bentheim Winter Fun

2010-02-04T12:50:00.000-08:00

Iknowthat.com Botz Programming

2010-02-02T08:31:00.000-08:00

Learn to program these botz through lots of fun puzzles and experimenting. Once you learn these coding basics you will be able to build all kinds of interactive online activities.

Play with Botz.

Blue Star Winter Favorites

2010-02-01T07:00:00.001-08:00

Here is a collaborative effort from our Blue Star Second Graders.

Check out their favorite activities involving snow and ice.

Mrs. Sanders Class Project

Mrs. Berens Class Project

Explore ARKive

2010-01-29T09:46:00.000-08:00

ARKive.org is a wonderful place to learn about many different species of wildlife.

Look at amazing pictures and beautiful videos by clicking here.

Develop your Kid Wisdom for a Healthy Life.

2010-01-22T07:47:00.000-08:00

Here is a great game for learning healthy eating habits.

Play Snacktown Smackdown and then check out the other fun and very informative resources available from Kaiser Permanante.

Build a Snowman

2010-01-19T09:42:00.006-08:00

Have fun building snow people without leaving the cozy indoors.

Click here to begin.

Beware of the Typer Sharks

2010-01-12T05:52:00.001-08:00

Give Typer Shark a spin and see how long you can last.

This one is a real challenge.

Play Typer Shark online for free.

If you have a PC at home, you can download a free version to play when offline. Get your parents' permission first!

Getz Lakewood Farm and Zoo

2010-01-11T07:19:00.000-08:00

Once upon a time, the Holland, MI area had its own zoo. Not much is left of the grand Lakewood Farm and Zoo. You have probably traveled down Lakewood Blvd. and didn't know it was named for this historic property. Located between Lake Macatawa and Tunnel Park, it was an attraction that was "must see" for people who visited this area.

View Getz Lakewood Farm in a larger map

Visit these websites to learn more about the once grand zoo.

Lakewood 360
Lake Michigan Gem
View in Google Earth

Keyboard Climber

2010-01-08T11:41:00.000-08:00

Use Keyboard Climber and type with the correct hand movements.

Helping Children Find What They Need on the Internet

2009-12-26T08:54:00.000-08:00

Helping Children Find What They Need on the Internet New York Times
Stephanie Olsen

Published: December 25, 2009

When Benjamin Feshbach was 11 years old, he was given a brainteaser: Which day would the vice president’s birthday fall on the next year?

Daniel Rosenbaum for The New York Times

To make Web searches easier, Benjamin Feshbach's idea is a Google robot.

Benjamin, now 13, said he typed the question directly into the Google search box, to no avail. He then tried Wikipedia, Yahoo, AOL and Ask.com, also without success. “Later someone told me it was a multistep question,” said Benjamin, a seventh grader from North Potomac, Md.

“Now it seems quite obvious because I’m older,” he said. “But, eventually, I gave up. I didn’t think the answer was important enough to be on Google.” Benjamin is one of 83 children, ages 7, 9 and 11, who participated in a study on children and keyword searching. Sponsored by Google and developed by the University of Maryland and the Joan Ganz Cooney Center, the research was aimed at discerning the differences between how children and adults search and identify the barriers children face when trying to retrieve information.

Like other children, Benjamin was frustrated by his lack of search skills or, depending on your view, the limits of search engines.

Read whole article

Falling Sand Game

2009-12-18T06:24:00.001-08:00

Create your own ecological balance with this classic simulation of falling, water and sand. Add plants and use fire responsibly, but watch out for the big random natural disaster that churns in the distance.

Play now.

Google Earth Search: Where would you live?

2009-12-08T12:15:00.000-08:00

Google Earth has made it so we can easily travel all over the world and explore just about anywhere.

Use Google Earth and this link to search for the perfect place to live anywhere in the world.

Don't be a Mr. Bungle! Have good lunch room manners.

2009-12-02T06:12:00.001-08:00

Many more Coronet Instructional Videos are available through Archive.org.

Merry Christmas from Mr. Losik

2009-12-01T06:47:00.000-08:00

You bugged...you nagged...you even said, "Pleeeeeeaaaaase!" More importantly, you have worked hard all year long.

So.............here it is! The return of Make-A-Flake!

Click here to let the clipping begin.

Here is a little guide to help with the printing.

Start a Story with Scholastic's Story Starters

2009-10-19T12:53:00.000-07:00

So you say that you don't know what to write about...Here is the solution! Scholastic Story Starters is a fun way to get an idea for your next writing piece.

Just follow the directions and spin away. The website will guide you through the creation of your writing piece. It even has neat templates for you to use.

Begin writing by clicking here.

Check out Speak-a-boos

2009-10-19T07:22:00.000-07:00

Speakaboos.com is a great new site that lets you listen to classic and new stories. Speakaboos is in the process of making it so you can write, publish, and record your own stories.

Enjoy Speakaboos by clicking here.

A Great Moment in Infotech

2009-10-13T10:48:00.001-07:00

Here is a moment from today I just had to share. Kids are loving books and taking the time to share them with each other.

Flickr + Kid Pix + Animoto = Cool Summer Vacation Video

2009-10-05T10:58:00.000-07:00

Mr. S's class at Blue Star kicks off our video tour of where students spent parts of their summer vacations.

Photos were all found at Flickr.com. Students discussed how sites like Flickr allow people from all over the globe to construct amazingly huge compilations of work.

All slides were created in Kid Pix individually and the video was compiled using Animoto.com.

Fire Prevention Week: Get Your Smokey On!

2009-10-05T05:56:00.000-07:00

When I was growing up, everybody knew that "Only you can prevent forest fires." thanks to Smokey Bear.

Kids today though don't see Smokey nearly as much on TV as we did. Smokey has gone high tech though and has a great website where kids can play games and explore all kinds of ways to prevent forest fires.

Kick off Fire Prevention Week by visiting Smokey's Kids Page.

Seeking Michigan Makes Learning History Fun

2009-10-02T06:20:00.000-07:00

Seeking Michigan is an extension of the state archives and brings history to life for all ages. Check out their main site for all kinds of activities.

Seeking Michigan also has a companion page at Vimeo where they house lots of great old Michigan videos.

Main Site
Video Site

Two more than...or less than

2009-09-23T17:43:00.000-07:00

How fast can you click 2 more than the number shone? Visit this great site and see how fast you can go!

Or....you can play "Two Less Than" by clicking here.

Find out when the Sun or Moon will rise and set anywhere

2009-09-23T05:44:00.000-07:00

Visit the United States Navy's Sun or Moon Rise/Set Table to explore how different will have longer evenings or shorter mornings. You can enter any location in the world.

Image from the United States Navy

Shape Up!

2009-08-26T05:36:00.001-07:00

Pattern blocks teach you many different math concepts plus they are really fun. Check out this site from Illuminations that lets you build with shapes, but also change their look as well.

The possibilities are endless!

Explore Prongo

2009-06-04T07:47:00.001-07:00

There is a world of fun and educational activities waiting for at Prongo.com. There looks to be something for everyone, including free and legal clipart you can use for backgrounds or other projects.

Visit by clicking the image or this link.

Phineas and Ferb enter the Roller Coaster Builder Wars

2009-06-01T05:51:00.000-07:00

Disney's Phineas and Ferb have their own roller coaster builder activity online at Game Smash. Apply the rules of science and build the best coaster. When finished, you may publish and share your track while riding the tracks of other users.

Discovery Kids: Build the Scariest Roller Coast

2009-05-31T18:44:00.000-07:00

Discovery Kids has its version of Roller Coaster Builder online. After your coaster is built, riders take it for a spin and tell you how scary it is. See how far you can push the fear-o-meter.

Other roller coaster builders online can be found at: PBSKids.org's Fetch: Whoa-ler Coaster and at Fundrstanding.com

The Discovery coaster designer is all about thrills while the latter two teach more of the science behind the rides.

Munch some numbers!

2009-05-22T12:07:00.000-07:00

When I first started teaching in 1995 this was one of the few computer learning games I had to use with my students. Use this slightly modernized form to practice your math skills. Thanks to Professor Couros at the University of Regina for sharing.

Play Number Munchers Game

WITH PARENT SUPERVISION ONLY: Play Online Games at Online Games!

The Great Midwest Fire

2009-05-19T07:55:00.000-07:00

October 8, 1871 was a terrible day in history...especially in the Midwest. On that night fire destroyed not only one of the world's greatest cities Chicago, but also our very own Holland, MI amongst others.

Learn more about that terrible night at Today in History: October 8.

Take an Odyssey through Time

2009-05-18T08:12:00.001-07:00

Imagine looking out from a school bus window here in Michigan and seeing mammoths. Well, if you had been headed to school 200,000 years ago, that might have happened.

Check out this new game from the San Diego Zoo to explore life as a mammoth long, long ago. Elephant Odyssey Game.

San Diego Zoo Games

2009-05-17T10:13:00.000-07:00

Share your favorite 5.

2009-05-14T12:49:00.001-07:00

Watch your step

2009-05-11T12:12:00.000-07:00

The Bentheim 5th graders took the Flip camera with them on their field trip last Thursday. Even though they got some great footage of their earth materials investigation that will be using in class, they also capture this little vignette they find hilarious. Enjoy.

Fantastic Contraption Collaboration Project

2009-05-08T11:16:00.000-07:00

Today at Bentheim Elementary we embarked on a major challenge at the website Fantastic Contraption.com. Mrs. Miles' 4th grade class started by designing contraptions and testing them in attempts of completing Level 19, Back and Forth. Students have to place the pink circle show above in the pink rectangle to the right. What makes this difficult is that a contraption has to be built within the blue-outlined box. They will have to move left, get the circle, and then somehow send it to the right.

Instead of everyone working on their own secret ideas, everyone shared their ideas, and when one or two looked promising, groups began to build upon their classmates' ideas...not steal them. The fourth graders worked diligently all hour but didn't get quite finished. That is okay because Mr. Lancaster's class will pick up the project right where the others left off. Will they be able to solve this challenge?

If you can solve "Back and Forth (on page 2 of puzzles) please link to it in the comments area.

Part 2: Success

Thanks to lots of hard work from both classes, Logan and Kyle from Mr. Lancaster's class achieved the final solution to this puzzle. It was just those two who solved it. Everyone was engaged in solving this problem. Those two just happened to be the ones who built upon many different ideas to reach the goal first.

Not only did we learn how to solve problems as a group, we learned that many different contributions go into a final outcome. We couldn't have done this without great individual efforts.

Here is video of how the goal was finally achieved.

See the actual design and tweak it some more at Fantastic Contraption.com.

Learn How Laura Made a Difference: 25 Days Blog

2009-05-07T06:52:00.000-07:00

An 11 year old girl named Laura is a special kid. To honor her grandfather after he passed away, Laura decided that she would do one kind deed everyday for twenty-five days. She created this blog and as word got out, she inspired good deeds around the world.

What does Laura's work make you think about?

Read Laura's blog.

What are your multiple intelligences?

2009-04-29T10:02:00.001-07:00

Visit this site and answer a few questions to better understand the ways your brain learns best.

Daniel's Back!

2009-04-27T05:58:00.000-07:00

Daniel Cook is back and his playroom is loaded with lots of cool stuff. Check out the backyard in all four seasons.

Play here.

Kidsbiology.com: Animal Database

2009-04-21T08:16:00.000-07:00

It's a jungle out there...and a desert, and a forest, and huge bodies of fresh and saltwater.

Explore those habitats by investigating some of the animals that live in the.

Kidsbiology.com: Animal Database

Rank Your Typing at Rankmytyping.com

2009-04-17T01:22:00.000-07:00

How fast can you type...and how does that compare with other kids and other people around the world?

Visit RankMyTyping.com today and take the simple 60 second test. Afterward, give your birthdate, state, country, and gender. Put a red X next to occupation and I use a computer. Do this 5 times. Write down on scratch paper your top 3 WPM scores.

Now use this form I posted online for you. Record your top 3 scores and then choose your class. When you press submit, your scores will be sent to me, Mr. Losik.

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Hockey Night in Michigan: Mashup Maker

2009-04-15T01:42:00.000-07:00

Our Canadian friends at CBC Sports have put together a great hockey highlight maker.

Check it out at Hockey Night in Canada: Mashups.

Mash it up! Go Red Wings!

Just Hangin' with my Peeps

2009-03-31T06:39:00.000-07:00

Explore the world with Peep and his buddies at the "Peep and the Big Wide World" website. You can learn a lot playing with these guys.

Build your skills at Arcademic Skill Builders

2009-03-30T06:01:00.001-07:00

Arcademic Skill Builders is a great place to play games, uhhh, I mean perfect your math skills.

There are a number of activities for all grade and skill levels that can be perfected while having lots and lots of fun.

Work those brains! Play

Fourth Grade Capitol Research

2009-03-18T03:36:00.000-07:00

Fourth graders can continue to work on their capitol projects by recording their research online with the following form.

Focus questions:
1. In what year was your state's current capitol built?
2. What is the capitol's address?
3. Find three facts about the construction of your capitol.
4. List four other interesting facts about your capitol building.

Fill out this form.

Get to know American Historical figures at Teacher Tube

2009-03-17T12:21:00.001-07:00

The American Institute for History Education has created a wonderful series about getting to know important people from American History.

Visit this link and pick a video about an interesting person.

Then click on this form and show me what you learned.

FAAN Kids teaches you about food allergies

2009-03-16T09:54:00.000-07:00

The Food Allergies & Anaphylaxis Network has a great site to learn about living with food allergies. Click here to start.

Here is one way to think about Internet safety

2009-03-16T08:43:00.000-07:00

Use your noggin at Noggin.com

2009-03-03T06:44:00.001-08:00

Lots of our favorite reading friends like Franklin and Olivia are waiting for you at Noggin.com. Make smart choices and find activities that will help you become a better reader and thinker.

Have fun at Noggin.com.

Thanks Mr. Ashcroft

2009-03-02T13:16:00.000-08:00

Who says Bentheim gets all of the media attention?

Fox 17 Sports Anchor Brent Ashcroft stopped by Blue Star Elementary to kick off March is Reading Month today. He read "By my Brother's Side" by NFL star twins Ronde and Tiki Barber. After reading to the student body, Mr. Ashcroft answered several questions all revolving around this month's focus of becoming good readers, writers, and ways to make healthy choices about food and exercise.

Thanks Mr. Ashcroft for taking time out of your busy day to spend some time with us.

Walk the Underground Railroad

2009-03-02T05:41:00.001-08:00

Scholastic takes users back in time and through the experience of traveling the Underground Railroad to freedom.

Click here to begin.

Make Some Pic Lit

2009-02-27T09:41:00.001-08:00

Add text to amazing pictures and make your own Pic Lits at PicLits.com.