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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Improving our designs...

2/10/2015

 
As first graders test their light communication tools on their partners, they are realizing that they can improve their tools to better communicate the information they need to tell someone.  Students have learned to manipulate the materials in many ways so that their tools are clearer.  Improving a design is a very important part of an engineer's work.  Our goal is to have our partner answer three questions without an error.  

First graders used existing technologies that use light to communicate as their inspiration.  We looked at traffic lights, blinkers on cars, and lighthouses.  Each of these technologies sends a message with light!  

Keep up the great work communicating with light first grade!


Using our Light Communication Tools

2/4/2015

 
As first graders plan and build their light communication tools, they must test them out on a partner to see how effective they are!  

Here's the setup!  Student A writes down questions about themselves.  They give their journal to Student B.  Student B asks the questions to Student A, but student A can't respond in words...they must use their light communication tool to communicate their answers!  

Check out the examples below!  Each student's goal was to have their partner answer the most questions correctly.  This indicates that their light communication tool was a success!

Way to go first grade!  

Light Communication Tools!

1/27/2015

0 Comments

 
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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.  

How Does Light Interact with Different Materials?

12/11/2014

 
First graders' next investigation looks at how light interacts with different materials.  Our big focus is looking for evidence.  In a simple experiment involving flashlights and two makeshift walls, they are looking for evidence that light can bounce off a material (reflect), go through a material (transmit) or stop at a material (absorb).  We will be using our findings in an upcoming design challenge!

Lighting up our zoo...

12/8/2014

 
First graders are putting their knowledge to the test!  By using what they know about light, they are trying to get different zoo animals to become illuminated.  Sounds easy right?  Well, once we put those ideas on paper, it becomes a bit trickier.  We're practicing placement and directions, all of which are important in identifying where the light source is and how light travels from the light source to the object it illuminates.  

How Does Light Travel?

12/1/2014

 
First graders are using light to their advantage.  In a darkened classroom, they are investigating how light travels.  We will be making claims for this question, investigating how light moves with various flashlights, and draw a model to explain this scientific phenomenon.  Expect some review at this point, as I make sure everyone understands the basics of light before we work to use light in some problem-solving challenges!

Our big findings:  light moves REALLY fast and it travels in straight lines!
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    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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