What we Know - Wonder - Learn About Structures!

What do we already KNOW, WONDER and what have we LEARNED about strong and stable structures? We have been using this Padlet to share our ideas and update as we experiment, research and complete our various  STEM challenges. Have a look at what we've done so far, and please feel free to read and post over the break from home! If you are eager to learn more, please visit any of our Wonder Websites to add to our learning on the Padlet below.

Global Maker Day 2018: Cardboard Challenge

What a #GlobalMakerDay it was in @MrsCiampaClass and Mrs Boyer's grade 3 classes today! So much creativity and innovation went into making these great arcade games! Impressive! @StEmilyOCSB @StEmilyCouncil pic.twitter.com/sExFl2urnG

— Margie Butler (@ButlerMargie) 24 October 2018

That’s the sound of @Makedo safe-saws for cardboard construction. #ocsbDesignThinking #GlobalMakerDay @StEmilyOCSB pic.twitter.com/vABFaAIn2N

— Mrs.Ciampa (@MrsCiampaClass) 23 October 2018

Beginning our Cardboard Challenge with a planning session. Asking questions and imagining what games we could make for #GlobalMakerDay today. #DesignThinking #ocsbDesignThinking ⁦@StEmilyOCSB⁩ pic.twitter.com/lbAO6X6dRu

— Mrs.Ciampa (@MrsCiampaClass) 23 October 2018

Wanted: Small Cardboard!

Next week we will be completing a Cardboard Challenge during #GlobalMakerDay. We are in need of cardboard boxes or cardboard of any kind to prepare for our future challenge. (Examples: cereal boxes, gift boxes, kleenex boxes, paper towel rolls, etc..) If you have any small cardboard boxes or materials that you can donate to our class, please send them with your child before next week!

Many Thanks!

Hour of Code

This week students participated in the #HourofCode. Students had the chance to participate in a variety of computer science activities online and using robots in our school. Students are expert programmers with the robot Dash. They had so much fun applying their knowledge of forces in science and coded Dash to move in a variety of positions and locations. We also had the chance to plan purposeful activities with Dash when we were challenged to design a maze for Dash to navigate through. Students used a variety of tools in their attempt to get Dash to move in the correct direction. They learned through much trial and error how to slow Dash down, pick up speed at the right time and change location to be successful. It was a tough challenge, but many students persevered to accomplish their goal.

Students also programmed their own games on the Coding website code.org. Students loved programming on many of the sites including Minecraft, Google logo, Flappy Game, Star Wars, Box Island so so much more. Students were challenged to apply their knowledge of forces in science as well as their math skills in movement. It was a great week of collaboration, critical thinking and communication. We reflected on this engaging week by writing a retell paragraph using details from the struggles and the exciting adventures we had with coding. Ask your child to share what they wrote about and what they liked best.


Students are encouraged to keep coding at home and use our KidBlog platform to continue to share what they are learning, what obstacles they face and what new discovery they are making while coding on their platform of choice.

We wrapped up our week of #hourofcode by reflecting on our code learning. We wrote about what we learned and what we liked best. Ask your child about what they wrote. #FridayFeeling pic.twitter.com/dHRyDeZHYI

— Mrs.Ciampa (@MrsCiampaClass) 8 December 2017

Our elf Tallulah challenged our class to design a maze for Dash to go through. Students creativily designed mazes with tools in our room. A fun #hourofcode today. #ontariocodes pic.twitter.com/yftBqUSoby

— Mrs.Ciampa (@MrsCiampaClass) 6 December 2017

More examples of hour of code in grade 3. pic.twitter.com/gTjORa2U5H

— St Emily School (@StEmilySchool) 5 December 2017

Even with internet issues we persevered and completed an #hourofcode. Students worked through a few coding stations today and LEGO challenges too. #ontariocodes #stem #ocsbdl pic.twitter.com/l229xj2g9P

— Mrs.Ciampa (@MrsCiampaClass) 5 December 2017

Happy coding week! We got distracted from our math lesson by this awesome #Google coding game. #hourofcode #OntarioCodes pic.twitter.com/6lJc4KKvuF

— Mrs.Ciampa (@MrsCiampaClass) 5 December 2017

Problem solving when Dash won't follow the code. pic.twitter.com/JUScj68wWM

— St Emily School (@StEmilySchool) 1 December 2017

Students put their Forces in science learning into practice today. We programmed Dash using @WonderWorkshop apps. Ask your child what they had Dash do and what they learned. #stem #ocsbdl #ontariocodes pic.twitter.com/98Ps4DLgCq

— Mrs.Ciampa (@MrsCiampaClass) 1 December 2017

Grade 3 Ciampa codes Dash to move pic.twitter.com/XAvKGtriOD

— St Emily School (@StEmilySchool) 1 December 2017

We continue to experiment with the @WonderWorkshop apps to program and code our little Dashes. #stem #ocsbdl Ask your child what they learned on the Blockly app today. pic.twitter.com/ooimzXySci

— Mrs.Ciampa (@MrsCiampaClass) 29 November 2017

Students experimented with @WonderWorkshop today. We had fun teaching Dot how to move in different directions. #stem #ocsbDL pic.twitter.com/Myxe2mzm4V

— Mrs.Ciampa (@MrsCiampaClass) 23 November 2017

Global Maker Day - Cardboard Challenge

Today students put their plan into action and brought their ideas to life during the cardboard challenge. Students were only aloud to use cardboard, scissors, tape and crayons or markers to design  and create. They were also told they needed to create something that could either be pushed or pulled.

Planning in groups for the challenge

They followed the Design Process to solve problems, brainstorm ideas, make a plan, follow and test our their plan, alter or change their ideas and finally reflect on what worked and what didn't. They worked extremely well in their groups today. No one gave up or become frustrated. Everyone was encouraging and helpful. They were on task and had so much fun  while playing and creating. It was also great to see them help out their friends when they needed extra hands to help solve a problem or to finish up their project.

Cardboard Challenge in action!

Students all got a chance to present their inventions and test it out in front of the group. They reflected on what worked and what didn't. They answered questions from their friends and asked a few friends to come up and try their games. Have a look below at our finished products! They are very proud. We will be writing a retell paragraph and a reflection on how the challenge went tomorrow. For homework, please have your child prepare for this by retelling what they did today. Have them use the keep on track words (first, next, then, after that, also, finally, etc) to share the steps they took to create today. It will be helpful for them to practice retelling for their writing work tomorrow in class.

A Vending Machine

A Photocopier Game

A tractor and a wagon with a game inside the wagon!

Maze Machine

Lucky Shoot Flicking Game

Pet Carrier and a Flicking Game

Flick Game

Cardboard Challenge - #GlobalMakerDay

Our class is participating in #GlobalMakerDay. We are going to use cardboard to challenge us to make, design and play something that will allow us to either push or pull. Students are only allowed to use scissors, tape and cardboard. They've collaborated in their group of 3 to come up with what problem they want to solve, or what neat idea they want to explore. Tomorrow we will play!

To get students thinking about the design process and how the cardboard challenge will look, we watched two videos about Caine's Arcade to inspire us.

What is Caine's Arcade, and how did pieces of cardboard inspire this wonderful boy's imagination?  Watch below to find out!


Here is Part 2 of Caine's story. Have a look at the inspiring creations that students from around the world have created after watching his story. We will be playing and creating tomorrow. Ask your child about their ideas!