Examples of where I communicate clearly and purposefully can be seen when I was working on the script with my partner. We both made a plan on who was doing what, so we were able to get stuff done faster and more efficiently. We had to make sure we had clear communication so there would not be an overlap in our work, and to make sure that everything was covered thoroughly.
An example of where I built upon someone else’s ideas was when I was going through some of the work editing and adding points onto my partner’s work. I was able to create connections between their ideas and my ideas, so adding extra points was easier since that connection was made.
If there is disagreement within the group, I find it helpful to work around it and find an area in the disagreement where we do somewhat agree. From there, we can work on it and expand. If there is nothing we can agree on, I would say to somehow combine the two ideas into one, after all there would be more information in that scenario.
I used my critical and reflective thinking skills during the single and double replacement lab by analyzing the products of the experiments, using my analyzing skills to write feedback about the experiment, and how I researched before the experiment. In order to classify the what the product was and what qualities it had, I had to analyze carefully throughout the reactions. For example, this picture shows the product of the silver nitrate and copper pieces reaction. This reaction took a total of ten minutes to fully complete, and I had to watch it very carefully throughout those ten minutes, and write about it. Writing about the products is where used my analyzing skills to write feedback. I had to really pay attention so I could go into detail while reflecting. To analyze these products correctly, I had to learn about them in class and study hard so I could be more confident while classifying the products. My critical and reflective thinking skills helped me with this lab, because we had to balance, classify, and write about single and double reactions a lot.
When I need to boost my mood or re-focus, I listen to music. Music is one of my passions and my passions make me happy. Music can also help me clear my mind so I’m not thinking of so many things so I can focus on my work. I have valuable ideas to share about photography and I do so by joining the photography class and engaging in the activities. A short term goal is getting my license. I am 15 now and I can get my L when I turn 16. I am excited to start saving up for a car and driving.
I always feel 🥱 before P.E. because I am always tired.
Health and Wellness Core Competency Reflection
When I need to boost my mood or refocus, sometimes I will take a quick break and clear my head so I am able to focus again. One of my preferred strategies for maintaining a healthy, balanced lifestyle is having a routine. Having a routine helps me stay healthy and not go off track. For example when I get home from school I always do my homework before anything else.
Table, graph, and calculations made using Excel.Table, graph, and calculations made using Excel.Table, graph, and calculations made using Excel.
Justification
The GIC option was the best solution for me because I prefer low risk and I was able to make enough money for a down payment. First, I deposited the $80,000 into a 3-year GIC. Second, I placed the $10,000 I made into a 1-year GIC, then I took the balance including interest earned and placed that in another 1-year GIC when the first term was finished. Some strengths with this option include a guaranteed interest return with no risk of losing money. Some weaknesses with this option include smaller interest rates and the money cannot be accessed before the 1 year and 3 years are up, depending on the option. Unlike the GIC option, there is a risk of losing money when using stocks and I didn’t make enough money to save for the down payment with stocks.Â
Collaboration
Over the first two days, I worked with J, P, and J. I found working with these individuals very helpful because we all worked together as a team. We all contributed to the group by participating in group discussions and all being in charge of answering our own questions. I used another solution than the one me and my group talked about. My group and I talked about stocks. I didn’t use stocks because after doing the math, we lost too much money so we couldn’t afford the down payment.
Core competency Reflection
I can ask and respond to questions to be an active, supportive listener. I demonstrated this by communicating a lot with my group and asking them questions if I didn’t understand something. I also listened to what my group had to say so I could add on to their ideas.
I can work with others to achieve a goal. My group’s goal was to finish all the questions on the sheet we were given. Each person in our group would work on a different part of each question and then we would share our answers.
I can demonstrate respectful, inclusive behavior. I demonstrated respectful and inclusive behavior by not turning down my group’s ideas and encouraging my group to share what they were thinking.
I can form new ideas to create new things. If an idea of mine wasn’t working, I would communicate with my group and create new ideas that would work. I can also build on the ideas of others. I took some of my group’s ideas and added onto them or changed them up a little bit to experiment and try things out to see if they would work.
In this project we had to build a car that was only powered by a mouse trap and could reach 15 feet in a short amount of time. My final car was challenging to make because I had to come up with a new design after my original one didn’t work.
The first thing I did was draw my design on a piece of paper. After that I gathered all the supplies I needed to make my car. I measured and cut the wood and glued everything together. I tested out my car but it wasn’t working so I tried to change it up. I re-did my car and this one was way much better. I wanted to build a car that would go fast so I had to make it very light but also sturdy enough so it would go straight and not all over the place. My project in the end passed but it wasn’t the best. It went 19 feet in total but it kept turning to the left.
Egg drop challenge craftGolf tower challenge craft
Curricular Response
Building both of these crafts improved my understanding about the scientific method. To solve a problem you really have to observe and think about the problem. For example in the golf tower challenge, the problem was trying to get the tower to stand. In order for it to stand we had to make the base bigger and stronger. In the egg drop challenge, the problem was that we had to protect the egg so it didn’t crack. We then had to think and guess what would protect the egg, and then experiment with our guesses.
Core Competency Self Assessment and Creative Thinking
I am most proud of the golf tower challenge because we were able to complete it and get the tower standing. With the egg drop challenge our egg did not survive. Some strategies I used to overcome these challenges were brainstorming and working more with my partner. My partner and I brainstormed before we built so we had an idea on what to do and build. Working as a team helped us complete the build and coming up with more ideas. Based on my experience with the two labs, I feel like I have a better understanding of the scientific method considering I had no understanding of it before. I demonstrated that I can create new things when I am interested in it and take the time to plan it out. I demonstrated that I can build on the ideas of others when I already have other ideas so I can relate and compare both of our ideas. When trying new things, I expect setbacks and failure and use them to develop my ideas. An example of this from the Scientific Method labs would be when I experimented with my first golf tower design which didn’t work. I manipulated and changed my first tower design so it would stand better and hold the golf ball.
