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Mrs. Aquilia's Classroom

  • PS 174 William Sidney Mount
  • Rego Park, NY
  • More than a third of students from low‑income households Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more

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Past projects 3

  • Let's Build Their Futures With Lego!

    Funded Dec 31, 2022

    My STEM students from kindergarten to fifth grade love designing and building structures with Lego! Whether they're working on a specific STEM challenge, have selected a task from our Lego STEM Challenge Cards, or are choosing to be freestyle engineers, they are engaged and having fun! Lego lends itself to all abilities, learning styles, and ENL levels, permitting students on all levels to find success while learning and collaborating. I would not have been able to provide my scientists with this opportunity if it was not for your generosity. Thank you so much from all of us here at P.S. 174!”

    With gratitude,

    Mrs. Aquilia

  • It's Electrifying!

    Funded Feb 14, 2018

    As the science teacher in our elementary school, I wanted to find a fun, interesting and creative way to tie together our third grade energy unit and our fourth grade magnetism unit. The materials you generously donated were utilized with a special needs class of fourth and fifth graders to create electromagnets. Although I'd previously created one on my own, it was my first attempt to complete this task with a class, and we all had a great time learning together!

    Along with several paraprofessionals who work with the students, I helped students make a wire loop and attach it to a battery using metal paper clips. Students were then challenged to figure out how to use a magnet to make the wire loop spin, as the magnetic energy is transferred to electric energy. Just the set up of the materials alone proved quite a challenge; for example, students (and adults!) discovered they have to tape the paper clips so they supported the battery but were not moved by the magnet. Some also needed assistance in adjusting the shape and size of their wire loop so it did not hit the paper clips as it rotated.

    One of the biggest rewards was witnessing students use trial and error in their attempt to operate their electromagnet. They tried holding the magnet in different ways, or flipped it to the other pole. One girl added more magnets to see if that would create enough energy to spin her wire (it did not). Several students repositioned the paper clips on the battery to see if that would conduct more electricity. And we all experienced the heat produced by the battery's energy, as it was conducted by the wires and they became warm.

    After a number of attempts, we were able to finally get our wire loops to spin! This was, of course, exciting for us all, but some of the best learning came from using prior knowledge of energy and magnets to switch things up when it was not working. It was fulfilling to see my students work together to solve problems, to come up with various solutions when their electromagnet wasn't working, to be willing to accept help, and to persevere when it got a little frustrating. I am so grateful to have received the donated materials, and I look forward to working with more classes of students on creating electromagnets. Thank you very much for the opportunity!”

    With gratitude,

    Mrs. Aquilia

  • Human Conductors of Electricity!

    Funded Dec 8, 2016

    The Energy Sticks donated by you were part of my fourth grade Electricity Unit. They are transparent tubes with metal conductors on each end; when a person holds the ends with both of their hands, the Energy Sticks light up (red, blue, and green) and makes sort of a funny siren sound. Previously, my students learned how electrical energy travels in a circuit, or a continuous circular path. The path must be closed for the energy to travel. If the circuit is opened - if it has a gap or the circle is broken - the electricity is unable to flow. What I planned to accomplish with the Energy Sticks was for students to discover that we can actually create a closed circuit with our bodies when we hold each side of the Energy Stick. We can become human conductors of electricity!

    As our investigation began, each fourth grade student was presented with an Energy Stick mysteriously wrapped up in a brown paper towel so they couldn't see it. They weren't allowed to touch it until everyone had one, and they were not given directions. This built up quite a lot of suspense! When I yelled "GO!" and my fourth graders first unwrapped them, of course they had no idea what they were, so everyone was intrigued. Eventually someone figured out how it worked, and it was a very exciting moment! Each student then tried to mimic what made the Energy Stick light up and beep. Some took longer than others because you have to hold it just right for your hands to cover each of the metal conductors. As each student succeeded in figuring out how to engage their Energy Stick, they were each so excited! At this point they still didn't really understand what it was or what specifically made it work but they didn't care, they were just having a blast!

    After a few minutes, we took a break to discuss how and why the Energy Sticks work. After allowing them to play and experiment with the Energy Sticks for awhile longer, some students discovered that you don't necessarily have to hold each side with a hand, as long as one of your body parts touches each metal conductor. Some students held one side with their hand and held the other side against their cheek, or their leg, or their forehead. (To be honest, I hadn't even considered engaging the Energy Sticks in any of these ways, so I learned from observing my fourth graders!)

    I then posed each of the four tables of 6 -7 students with a challenge: to use only one Energy Stick and create a closed circuit that included each student at the table. Some of the tables accomplished this by everyone holding hands with 2 of the students holding the Energy Stick between them. At one of the tables, each student touched one of the metal conductors on the Energy Stick, and then they each touched each other to complete the circuit. Again, an idea I had not thought of myself!

    Finally, I challenged my students to complete one closed circuit using every member of the class. They created a large circuit around the perimeter of the science lab, waiting for everyone to hold hands, and then the two students who had the one Energy Stick held it up for everyone to see as it flashed and beeped. We all cheered! They even asked me to join in and opened their circuit for me, then held the Energy Stick up to my cheek for it to engage.

    Without a doubt my fourth graders now understand the workings of an electrical circuit. My next step will be to teach them about static electricity; this is the energy we each have in our bodies at all times that allowed the Energy Sticks to engage.

    Thank you so very much for your generosity; without your donation, my fourth graders would not have been able to experience such a fun and exciting investigation. This is the type of learning they will always remember, and I'm proud to have been able to provide this for them.”

    With gratitude,

    Mrs. Aquilia

As we begin our third grade energy unit and fourth grade electricity unit, there is no better way to introduce these 2 exciting topics than to create energy ourselves. My third and fourth graders are going to turn their bodies into conductors of electricity! These energy sticks allow students to investigate open and closed circuits using their own bodies! All humans have the static electricity inside us to create energy, and students will learn how to harness that electricity to complete a circuit. The Energy Sticks are plastic tubes with electrodes on each end of the plastic tube. When these electrodes are touched simultaneously, the tube lights up and makes noise. When one or both of the electrodes are released, the flashing lights and noise stop because the circuit is broken. I plan to have students each experiment with his/her own Energy Stick, and then create multi-student circuits by having students hold hands in a circle. One participant can hold one electrode and the person next to him or her can hold the other electrode. If everyone in the circle is holding hands, the Energy Stick will light up and make noise. We will learn that as someone breaks the circle it will stop. My students will love learning about energy and electricity using these Energy Sticks, and I can't wait to launch this activity!

About my class

As we begin our third grade energy unit and fourth grade electricity unit, there is no better way to introduce these 2 exciting topics than to create energy ourselves. My third and fourth graders are going to turn their bodies into conductors of electricity! These energy sticks allow students to investigate open and closed circuits using their own bodies! All humans have the static electricity inside us to create energy, and students will learn how to harness that electricity to complete a circuit. The Energy Sticks are plastic tubes with electrodes on each end of the plastic tube. When these electrodes are touched simultaneously, the tube lights up and makes noise. When one or both of the electrodes are released, the flashing lights and noise stop because the circuit is broken. I plan to have students each experiment with his/her own Energy Stick, and then create multi-student circuits by having students hold hands in a circle. One participant can hold one electrode and the person next to him or her can hold the other electrode. If everyone in the circle is holding hands, the Energy Stick will light up and make noise. We will learn that as someone breaks the circle it will stop. My students will love learning about energy and electricity using these Energy Sticks, and I can't wait to launch this activity!

About my class

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