Gretchen Brinza
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Optical Engineering

Optical engineers are experts at light and how it interacts with different materials.  They help develop technologies that solve problems related to light!

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Light Communication Tools!

1/27/2015

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Here they are!  Light communication tools!  

First graders are trying to get their peers to answer some yes/no questions...without talking.  They can only use a light source (a flashlight) and various materials to communicate over a distance.  Check out some of their plans below!  

We'll be working on improving our plans over the next couple weeks!
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Using Light to Communicate!

1/27/2015

 
Mrs. Brinza's given the first graders a challenge...try to answer a friend's question WITHOUT TALKING!

Using a code, first graders are showing how they can communicate by using light.  Since light interacts with materials differently, light can send a message in many different ways.  Light can flash, stay on, turn off, and even create different types of shadows based on it's relative position to an object or the tyo of material the object is made from.  Knowing all these things will come in handy as first graders create a "LIGHT CODE."  

For example, flashing a light might represent "YES."  Turning the flashlight off might represent "NO."

Using this code, can you learn a little bit more about Mrs. Brinza?


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1.  Is Mrs. Brinza the oldest child in her family?


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2.  Does Mrs. Brinza have a brother?
Check back soon for first graders' light communication tools!

Designing a Technology!

1/20/2015

 
Knowing that light must be present in order for us to see, first graders are using this knowledge to help design a technology involving light.  One of the most useful technologies that uses reflecting light is a periscope.  Periscopes allow people to see above and below surfaces without having to physically be in that location.  

For example, a scuba diver can see above the ocean's water.  Or a pirate can see below the surface!  First graders built the periscopes, and changed the way the mirrors tilted to be able to see in a direction their eyes weren't looking!  How cool!
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Redirecting Light!

1/13/2015

 
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Knowing how materials interact with light is important...especially when they'll be needed to solve a problem!

First graders are using their knowledge of how light interacts with materials to get a Lego man to illuminate.  Sounds easy...except Lego man is behind a wall and they can't move the light source!  Using a set of mirrors and changing their angles (or the way they are tilted), students are using the engineering design process to reach their intended goal.  When one plan doesn't work, they improve their plan to include another idea!

Awesome work first graders!

Drawing Models!

1/5/2015

 
First graders are working on drawing models.  Modeling is an important practice of an engineer's work. Using various materials, first graders are drawing and explaining what happens when those materials are placed in front of a flashlight.  They are looking for evidence to support the reasoning in their models.  

    Mrs. Brinza

    Light helps me see my reflection every day!

    Useful Links

    Reflecting Mirrors:  How We See Things

    Light and Shadows

    Geometric Optics

    Newton's Prism Experiments 

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