The students at West End Academy watched and discussed today's TED-Ed lesson on grit. Here in the South we think that grits are for breakfast. But when you think about it, grits are like sand, and sand is tough. Sand has properties that allow it to break down other materials. Sandpaper can smooth down the roughest surface. In a way, this is like grit. Grit is a person's ability to persevere and be resilient in the face of obstacles. I created this TED-Ed lesson to remind us that in the face of seemingly insurmountable obstacles, the right combination of problem-solving, creativity, and grit can make the impossible possible. In this TED-Ed lesson we learn about the Koh Panyee football team in 1986. A group of young men who live on a floating island in Thailand decided they wanted a football pitch (field)- and they made it happen (on water!). Watch as the boys beat the odds and learn more about facing and overcoming the obstacles in your own life. Find the TED-Ed Lesson here: http://ed.ted.com/on/FQYLVah6
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Have you ever seen Birmingham's flag? If you haven't, it's ok! Not many people could describe it. We don't see it many places around town. Why? It was designed a long time ago- maybe it needs an update! The study of flags is called Vexillology. Try saying that three times fast!
So go ahead and study our flag. What do you like about it? What don't you like about it? Does this flag represent Birmingham today? What does the city of Birmingham mean to you? Did you know that there are actually guidelines and principles about flag design? How does our flag stack up? 1) Keep it simple: The flag should be so simple that a child could draw it from memory. 2) Use meaningful symbolism: The flag's images, colors, or patterns should relate to what it symbolizes. Symbolism is when images and patterns represent something else- an idea or quality. For instance red may resemble strength. 3) Use 2-3 basic colors: Limit the number of colors on the flag to 3, which contrast well and are from the standard color set. 4) No lettering or seals: Never use writing of any kind or an organization's seal. 5) Be distinctive or be related: Avoid duplicating other flags but use similarities to show connections. And there you have it! The principles of flag design. Flags are always the same dimensions. They are rectangles. So now there's math involved! Geometry in fact. The dimensions of a flag are 3:5. That number represents a ratio. In a rectangle, the width is 3 and the length is 5, or any dimensions of the same proportion, such as 6 inches and 10 inches. Like fractions, if you multiply the 3 by 2, you will also have to multiply 5 by 2 to get the same dimensions. That's how we keep flags consistent around the world, by creating them to scale in the same dimensions. So do you think you can design a better flag? Our city's artists, designers, architects, artists, and creatives think you can! Just stick to the dimensions, and be ready to justify your artistic vision in writing! This contest is for kids and adults alike, and will be showcased during Design Week Birmingham. The deadline for submission is September 14, so start drafting! Find all contest information at:
http://bhmflagproject.com/ P.S. If you want to send some to the blog along with your submission please email them to [email protected] and we will showcase them here! In this talk, math, science, and art connect around the concept of symmetry. What is symmetry? sym·me·try ˈsimətrē/ noun
We think of symmetry as something reflected across one axis but it is actually a much more complicated and interesting concept! Explore the TED-Ed Lesson Here! TED Tuesdays: Slam dunk! The math behind Michael Jordan's legendary hang time TED-Ed Lesson8/18/2015 In Birmingham City Schools we have a number of gifted athletes. In fact, many of our students have gone on to play for competitive collegiate teams and found careers in professional sports. Did you know that there is actually a great deal of math in sports? Mostly a kind of math called Physics.
This class will probably come up sometime in high school, but it is never to early to learn these concepts. I didn't do very well in Physics class, I actually got a C but only because I didn't work hard enough at it. But here I am now, writing an article about it so that you don't make the same mistakes I did-- because physics can actually be pretty interesting and like anything else, if you work at it you will figure it out. In this TED-Ed lesson, where we learn the physics behind Michael Jordan's hang time! So the next time you are wondering when you will ever use that math, it may be in the next NBA game you watch. The math behind Michael Jordan's legendary hang time The GATE program is looking for guest bloggers- This could be ANY kid of any age who wants to share their ideas on the Birmingham City Schools website. It could be artwork, photography, writing, creative writing, journalism, or a school project you or your teacher are particularly proud of. Parents, if you have kids who have lots of creative productions please encourage them to submit to the blog! Our goal is to showcase talent across the district. Think outside the box! There is a world of possibilities.
To kick off TED Tuesdays we are going to start with a TED-Ed lesson on one of the greatest TED talks done by a young person. Adora Svitak makes the case for student voice and that children often have better, more creative ideas than adults! Here in Birmingham City Schools we want to empower students to share their voice. Here on the GATE Blog we will be publishing student work throughout the year. Please talk to the GATE teacher at your school if you would like to submit something or email Dr. Ferniany at [email protected]. Students do not have to be in the GATE program to submit material for the blog! Enjoy Adora's talk here and if you want to dig deeper, check out the exercises on this TED-Ed Lesson. Adora Svitak TED-Ed Lesson |
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