Not Bored with Cardboard!

Cardboard buttons for our participants!

Today I had a fantastic time presenting at the Peel Science and Technology Symposium with my amazing teaching partner! Our topic 'Not Bored with Cardboard' introduced a room full of teachers to our term 1 inquiry project based on Caine's Arcade (http://cainesarcade.com).

After taking them through everything we did to make this project cross-curricular (which I will talk about in depth in another blogpost) we let them loose and had them create hovercrafts using simple household materials. 

Tape, CD, pen lid, elastics, dime roller, sticky tack and scissors, and a balloon!
Yes - this was my desk. Note the purple scissors and funky tape!

I love when teachers get a chance to play! There is nothing like a little hands-on inquiry that gets adults releasing their inner child (well that, and the chance to make balloons fly around the room!). 

Here is the completed hovercraft! I can't wait to do this in my class next week. This project allows students to explore written directions (procedure), and figure out what makes the hovercraft move (forces) all in a hands-on inquiry based project.

For me, today was the first time I have presented, as a teacher, in front of my peers. As someone who grew up with extreme stage fright, this was a personal challenge for me. Luckily, an amazing teaching partner, and an awesome group of participants made this a really fun day! I am looking forward to getting up and sharing my ideas again!

Finally, nothing says cardboard workshop like a hair bow made of cardboard (and a duct tape owl - love that tape!).