Origin: Latin ferrum ("iron") and Latin equus ("horse") and English "ologist"
On Wednesday morning A-6 ferroequinologists learned about the history of
trains and about the Transcontinental Railroad.
In the afternoon they learned about trains that move goods
through a scavenger hunt on the BSNF Railway interactive website.
Follow the link below to check out this site.
A-6 ferroequinologists read "Owney the Mail Pouch Dog"
an historical fiction picture book about a dog that
rode the rails. Owney protected mailbags along the
way. Students learned about the various ways mail
was delivered back in the late 1800's.
Stage Coach, Rail, Boat!
an historical fiction picture book about a dog that
rode the rails. Owney protected mailbags along the
way. Students learned about the various ways mail
was delivered back in the late 1800's.
Stage Coach, Rail, Boat!
In 1897, a taxidermist preserved Owney and
he now resides at the Smithsonian Institute
in Washington D.C.
"Image courtesy of the National Postal Museum."
A-6 ferroequinologists then played a game where they had to move 20
bags of mail from Philadelphia to New Orleans in a given number of days!
Follow the link below to check out this game.
"Rail, Sail, or Overland Mail!"
http://www.postalmuseum.si.edu/RSOM/RSoOM.html
"Rail, Sail, or Overland Mail!"
http://www.postalmuseum.si.edu/RSOM/RSoOM.html
Today A-6 ferroequinologists learned about current train technology.
They designed maglev trains. Once trains were designed, the
students tested them. A few engineer's designs were immediately
They designed maglev trains. Once trains were designed, the
students tested them. A few engineer's designs were immediately
successful, but other engineers needed to figure out what to do to make their
trains successful. They persevered. They brainstormed and tried out new ideas.
Then SUCCESS! Great thinking and great technical work A-6 ferroequinologists!
Ask a third grader about maglev trains. What are they? How fast can they go?
Would maglevs be a good mode of transportation/travel? Why or why not?
Ask a third grader about maglev trains. What are they? How fast can they go?
Would maglevs be a good mode of transportation/travel? Why or why not?
Working on designs!
Finally, they tested their trains on the track. Of course, they had to
time them as well! If they had more time, they would have
worked on their designs even more to see how they could
increase the speed of their train. A-6ers were ever so engaged
and excited when they got their trains to run!
It was a fun way to end fourth grade!
I'm sorry there are not videos of each student
running his or her maglev train. I was often helping
students problem solve and wasn't able to be a
photographer at all times.
This chart shows the speed times recorded
by one of the students. They were all in the
one second (plus or minus) range on a five foot track.
