The Bloodmobile

A week ago our homeschool group, LEARN, had a fun activity based on They Might Be Giants Here Comes Science The Bloodmobile.  My boys have loved that album forever and we decided to explore some of the songs for deeper understanding.  My hope is that when they listen to the songs in the future they'll remember the hands on activities that made the lyrics make sense. I've written a little bit about the development of this lesson idea already the origin of the idea in Finally Looking Forward and a midweek blog Schoology, Minecraft and Fitbits make Science. I decided to put together a quick video of how the project turned out, I hope you enjoy it!

My  ultimate favorite quote from the interviews of the kids, "I killed germ-bies." (pronounced like zombies, just "germ" instead of "zom")

And because I'm growing tired of listening to myself explain how cool this project was and how it became an inspiring and energizing activity that will lead our future activities, I asked another mom what she thought:

From the perspective of a homeschool mom:

"The bloodmobile was a wonderful educational experience that used multiple platforms of hands-on experiential learning and the utilization of technology.  Schoology listed the assignments and provided instructions including an amusing video and book.  My children are in the beginning states of using an iPad and enjoyed exploring Schoology.  I was impressed at how simple the process was to use and was grateful for the step by step instructions.  One aspect of the blood mobile learning experience was a virtual Minecraft Realm where the kids got the opportunity to explore the human body.  My children have had little to no computer experience and have never used a mouse.  It was awesome to watch my oldest learn to navigate through the human body and recognize the brain, heart, lungs, intestines, stomach, etc.  The last component that brought the entire experience to life was the Bloodmobile homeschooling group session where the video was watched again followed by a red water bead sensory activity that ended with all the students exploring the Minecraft human body simultaneously.  The song from the video is constantly being sung throughout my home as the girls discuss blood cells, plasma, antibodies, oxygen, carbon dioxide, and nutrients.  At dinner, my girls explained to my husband how broccoli turns into nurients that feeds the cells.  They were so excited about what they had learned that they wanted to share the video, book, Minecraft body and sensory learning experience with him. I was very pleased with the entire experience."

Schoology, Minecraft, and Fitbits make Science

I have had a great time learning about schoology and making a mock up first lesson on the platform.  I've even dragged my friends into the process to help me learn to better use it and get unique feedback from parents.  It's been nice to have CJ and EMan also "taking" the class along with us.

In case you're new here, we're learning about blood this week.  We're learning the parts of blood and what blood does for our bodies.

An added bonus: Typing, spelling and critical thinking in an engaging environment

I decided to make a body in a Minecraft world.  It's coming along nicely and I LOVE having help from my super brilliant husband who has explored the game more in depth than I have.  We're on day 3 of our Schoology/Minecraft Blood lesson today.  As a trial run, I think it's working out quite well.  We're certainly fixing things along the way. 

A good friend even stayed after our preschool lesson today to walk through the Minecraft world and make sure she had an understanding of what she'd be doing with her daughter.

Oh, how do Fitbits make Science?  Well, we had a bit of Minecraft OVERLOAD since January 2nd (CJ's 6th birthday: when he received the game).  Steve and I decided that the amount of time they were allowed to play Minecraft would be related to the number of steps they take in a day.  Once they hit 2,000 steps on their Fitbit they are allowed to play Minecraft for 1 hour.  Today they didn't get to play all day long with regular schooling and such taking up most of the day.  So now, at 5pm, they each have 4,000+ steps and are allowed to play for up to 2 hours.  Though I have no solid opinion on regulating time spent on digital devices, I do enjoy the requirement of "breaks" to get some movement in.  

I've not done any direct instruction with our science lesson so far.  They've watched the music video.  Read a book and explored the Minecraft world.  This is EMan (4.5 years old) explaining what he is working on today.

Minecraft Math

As mentioned in my post yesterday, we let CJ demonstrate his math in Minecraft for the first time today.  It isn't advanced, but it's a good place to start.  I was able to identify how making sets of 3 is set up in his mind and how he made a sets of 3 in a long line and then couldn't remember what it was because the sets weren't clearly identifiable.  As we learn more about screencasting and Minecraft I'm sure we'll be able to demonstrate much more.  Thank you in advance for positive feedback in the comments.  CJ would love to hear what you think!

Finally Looking Forward

The past couple of weeks have been rough around the edges.  With the prospect of having someone else dictate my life looming over me (think: jury duty) I struggled to think ahead.  With the news that I'd been dismissed Saturday morning I jumped right into conversation with my awesome husband about ideas I have for the future.  Naturally, he lead the conversation towards Minecraft.  You see, I married a gamer.  He was curious if I had any great ideas that he could help me with.  Specifically: ideas to teach lessons through the Minecraft platform.

The first step I am planning on trying out is giving CJ his math assignment for the week on Minecraft.  He will be studying multiplication by 3's.  As an opened ended assignment he will need to demonstrate the multiplication equations of 3x1 through 3x10 (maybe higher, we'll just have to see how it goes).  This plan, though a great place to start, provided Steve with nothing to work on.  So we brainstormed more.  (A Minecraft snowman is a representation of 3x1 by the way.)

This week I'll be hosting a science class for my homeschool group.  The topic: Blood.  We'll be learning about the parts of blood and the key functions that blood carries out.  It is FULLY inspired by "The Bloodmobile" by They Might Be Giants.

Our conversation turned to the possibilities of creating a block body 100 blocks long with block organs. We discussed using dispensers to shoot out "oxygen" blocks and "hormone" blocks among other things that players could collect as they are acting as blood cells.  Players could then take their items to needy cells and the garbage dump (liver and/or kidneys).  

It's still a work in progress.  We started by taping quite a few graph pages together and then drawing out our model.  Minecraft Realms was the route we decided to go since we were struggling with hosting our own server and I can't get a MinecraftEdu account until I'm actually working for a school district.  I'm not sure how this lesson will develop and be utilized in the end.  However, I'm completely stoked about the possibilities and am using it as a learning experience for myself to create more engaging learning atmospheres for the future.  Wish me luck!

Castle Blocks - A Lakeshore Learning Product Review

When is the last time you witnessed 4 boys, ages 4, 6, 7 and 9, play with blocks for hours on end?  Today happened to be one of these occasions.  We got this really nifty set of Castle Blocks from Lakeshore Learning and the boys are in heaven.  The blocks are high-quality wooden blocks that are printed on every side with realistic details.  The doors can be laid down and flipped over to make a bridge. There are cubes and cylinders, pyramids and cones.  Certainly enough pieces to make the grandest castle.

Upon opening the package, EMan was immediately enthralled with the blocks.  He was excited about the possibilities and focused on how many different ideas there were presented on the back of the box.  CJ quickly returned with the neighbor boys and all four of them really dove into exploring the possibilities.  

 It was interesting to listen to the collaboration and sometimes dictatorship that was unfolding before me.  I was simply a spectator intrigued by what would happen with this group of boys and the castle blocks. There were strong opinions about how the blocks should and shouldn't be used.

  "This is looking so cool!" says EMan as he jumps with excitement onto the sofa.  Apparently their game has now included Minecraft characters. They have built a castle and a barn and are utilizing their Minecraft toys to make it into a full game.  Each boy is responsible to be one character from Minecraft.  I'd highly recommend either small dolls or characters such as these Minecraft ones to make the building of the blocks into a game of creativity.

 I love how they put "Steve" on top of the castle with a sword.  He is the defender after all. Oh, and the skeleton is trying to get in but can't.  You best still watch out for him though because he might just shoot you with his bow and arrow.

 We were down in the basement (the dungeon of amazing stuff that is disorganized and slightly overwhelming) when EMan noticed the Lakeshore Learning catalog next to my desk.  It featured the castle blocks on the front and he excitedly said, "MOM! Is this where you got the idea from?" It was so cute.  He and CJ then spent the next hour taking turns flipping through the catalog and deciding what we should save our money for next.

Thanks to Lakeshore Learning for making such a fantastic product and letting us test it out for you!  If you want to head on over to get your own castle blocks or find something handy for your classroom be sure to use our coupon! 20% off your purchase good through 3/31/2015

Minecraft

Have you played Minecraft yet?  I have to tell you, I've never been a computer game player...until now. Even I'm enjoying playing Minecraft.  We gave the game to CJ for his 6th birthday and it has become a family favorite.  We have 2 computers and can play together, wich adds tons of fun to it.  The game is basically a sandbox of bricks representing different elements (such as dirt, stone, coal, lava, water, etc.).  You can play the game on your own level wich means EMan runs around hitting stuff (that's how you "mine" it).  CJ and I make basic houses and try and explore some more interesting adventures.  Then there is Steve.  Mr. Steve as we refer to him with our homeschool group.  He's been playing computer games his whole life and has learned *already* to make circuts and a timed harvesting system for growing sugar cane and a way to make a portal to another world.  It's crazy!  The opportunities this game presents are amazing.  In fact, I've started thinking that I should get a job teaching at my kids Options program and teach a class based completely on Minecraft.  I'm sure it would be a hit.  I guess in order to really understand it though I'll have to play it much more....

Last night Steve and I wanted to play Ticket to Ride (a fantastic board game by the way).  We determined that the kids could watch a movie while we played.  Guess what their choice of movie was?  Seriously.  It kills me that people think kids have to be forced to learn.  Just find their interests people!  Still wondering what the boys wanted to watch for their movie night? The boys asked to watch Minecraft tutorials.  Yup.  An instructional video on how to play the game better.

And they couldn't hardly get close enough to the screen.  They were practically on the piano completely absorbed in the content.  It. Was. Awesome.  They also jumped and squeeled when the man leading the tutorial got attacked by a zombie.  Oh.  There are zombies in this game.  Rock on.