Braeburn ElementaryGrade 5

Quest Projects2011

•Essential Questions•Photos from Q Fair•Concluding remarks

Egyptian Beliefs

• How and why did ancient Egyptians incorporate "magic and animism" into their daily lives?

By Chris S.

Chris’s Research Question

• Very important daily habits related to preparing for the afterlife.

• Masks helped them recognize and be recognized while enjoying the afterlife.

• My mask was fashioned after King Tut’s, but mine was black, red and gold and my spiritual animal was a tiger.

Mrs. Hunt casts life mask.

• Just as the Egyptians might have prepared for their burial Chris experiences the darkness as the cold plaster sets.

• Hmm, a kind of burial for a few minutes.

Imagine Immigration

• What was it like to come to America through Ellis Island a hundred years ago?

By Lauren J.

Lauren’s Conclusions• It was hard to come through Ellis Island in

the 1900’s. • Ships had different levels. • People who rode in steerage were

crowded into pens with cows and other animals.

• They ate only sea water and stale bread. • Hopefully their arrival would offer

possibilities for a new life.

Evolution

• What were early humans like? • Are they/we still evolving? -By Camille W.

Camille’s Fixed Research Question

• I based my research on physical, artistic, technological, societal and living conditions of humans.

• I discovered through a Polldaddy survey that several science teachers agree with my hypothesis: Humans are not done evolving!

Earth Art

• What is the future of re-cycling and how can art help the planet?

-By Zoe S.

What is “earth art?”

• Zoe explains the work of artists who believe that the most beautiful art is found in nature not a canvas.

• She has studied the work of Andy Goldworthy.

• And Mrs. Havermale was her mentor who specializes in biology and art.

From Pollock to Policelli

• How did modern art, such as the work of Jackson Pollock, evolve and what do I prefer?

By Nora P.

Fixed Research Question

• Pollock used his splatter painting to express his feeling almost as if he was getting rid of them and putting them on a canvas

• I copied his style on mini canvases so I could experiment with what it felt like

• I designed my project so people could try Pollock’s style of painting not only look at it

Invention Sparks

• How do scientists/mathematicians find inspiration beyond facts? What examples of "sparks" can you use to analyze this?

By Trevor R.

Research Conclusions

• Inventors’ create theories by combining there own knowledge, other theories and historical happenings to solve a specific problem.

• An example of this is Einstein’s theory of space time, which he backed up with his theory of gravity, and how that works.

Science Fiction/Science Fact

• How has science fiction influenced science discovery? Like weather and space exploration.

By Ben R.

New Research Question

• Science fiction is related to science fact. • Harry Potter’s invisibility cloak is similar to

the science of bending light. • I wrote a small intro to a book about an

alien invasion. • My new question became ‘How is sci-fi

related to and inspiring science discovery.

Merchant and Me

• How can the study of music incorporate story and social action?

• Natalie Merchant’s song “Wonder” tells people that physical disabilities are not something to be ashamed of and that people should think of themselves as fondly as they would someone without disabilities.

• Studied a couple songs written by Natalie Merchant (Wonder, Topsyturvy World, etc.)

• Studied Peter and the Wolf and Little Miss Muffet

• Listened to a LOT of other music throughout the year on my free time

• Wrote my own songs!

See Like O’Keefe

• How did Georgia O'Keefe become one of the most celebrated American artists and what distinguishes her work from contemporaries?

• I really enjoyed getting to take lots of pictures of different types of flowers

• I was able to see the world like Georgia O’Keeffe did.

• She really looked at things close up, as opposed to, from a distance.

My Dream House

• How will past archeological treasures inspire what will become the future of architecture?

By Sofia M

•I wondered what would a house would look like if three designs were combined?

The thing I liked best about the house I have designed is creating the furniture with Lego

blocks and placing them where I had put them in my plan for the house.

Greeks Outsmart Persians

• Why were some ancient battles like Thermopoli so important and what might have happened had they not been victorious?

By Danny M.

• What specific elements in battle could make the difference between winning and losing?

• My diorama illustrated that weapons, strategies, quality of solders, did in fact make the difference between victory and defeat of an army.

• In the battle of Salamis, the [Greek] boats used a certain ram on the bow of their ships. This turned out to be a huge advantage over the Persians when they began the battle.

Research Conclusions

Bats

• Is the survival of bats in CT really important and why?

By Ellie D.

Research Conclusions

• “How do bats survive in their habitats and how does White Nose Syndrome affect them?”

• Did you know that a single little brown bat can catch over 600 invasive insects in one hour or less?

• Bats survive in their habitats by using echolocation and camouflage.

• They have complex brains and scientists studying whether they can remember where they’ve been and if they can help us find a cure to many deadly diseases like cancer.

• Also WNS is affecting bats by making them tired and dehydrated.

Black Holes

• How does chaos/fractal theory inform chemists searching for cures like cancer?

By Henry C.

Revised research question

• How do black holes form and how do they effect the area around them?

• Black holes are created from a dying star, to say it very simply.

• They warp the area around them, and suck objects in.

Trauma Therapy

• How do people survive after serious emotional trauma?

By Lila B.

Conclusions

• So many kinds expressive therapies: art, writing, puppetry, music, drama, and dance.

• Treatment can help us cope with stress, overcome fear and improve our self-esteem.

• Most importantly, we have it within our selves to overcome serious trauma.

Battle of Normandy

• Why was the Battle of Normandy during World War II so important?

By Conrad B.

Conclusions

• The Allied Forces plan to invade the five beaches in Normandy was successful because of certain factors.

• Misleading the Germans• Training of the soldiers• Utilizing the geography of the English

Channel

Our Principal, Mrs. Simpson asks great questions.

Very Important Persons

• Mrs.Simpson listens to students and asks about their projects

Our Quest Program Coordinator, Dr. Eastlake was impressed with the quality of our projects.

WHPS Quest Coordinator

• Dr. Eastlake is impressed with quality of Braeburn projects.

Hopefully, we can enjoy three more years questioning, exploring, searching and thinking as we move on to middle school.