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Bridging a Language Barrier: How the Internet Helped Us Make a Friend
Read more…: Bridging a Language Barrier: How the Internet Helped Us Make a FriendBy the Multi-Level Elementary Class of Donna L. Clovis, Riverside School, Princeton, New Jersey Editor’s Note: This “vintage” treasure from the Dragonfly Magazine archives (March/April 1997) reminds us that even in the early days of the web, technology’s greatest power was its ability to connect human hearts across vast distances. The Spark We attend an…
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Does the Nose Know? Exploring the Secrets of Scent Communication
Read more…: Does the Nose Know? Exploring the Secrets of Scent CommunicationBy Joyce Arnold’s Fifth-Grade Class, Fairfield North Elementary School, Indian Springs, Ohio Original Title: Does the Nose Know? Editor’s Note: This inquiry is a creative treasure from our Dragonfly Magazine articles (1997) that captures the timeless curiosity of students as they bridge the gap between animal behavior and human biology. It serves as a wonderful…
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Skeletons from Scratch: The 24 Pipe-Cleaner Challenge
Read more…: Skeletons from Scratch: The 24 Pipe-Cleaner ChallengeBy the Fifth-Grade Class of Sue LeBeau, West End School, Long Branch, New Jersey Editor’s Note: This article showcases a classic inquiry from the Dragonfly Magazine archives, originally published in the November/December 1996 issue. It highlights the timeless power of student-led engineering and the “trial and error” of the scientific method. The Spark How many…
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Bridging Art and Conservation: From Digital Design to Diverse Disclosures
Read more…: Bridging Art and Conservation: From Digital Design to Diverse DisclosuresHow can a background in fashion and computer science lead to a career as a leading conservation illustrator? In this episode, Kevin Matteson sits down with Katy Tanis, an alumna of the Advanced Inquiry Program (AIP) and the creative force behind the Love in the Wild children’s book series. Katy shares her journey of “sneaking”…
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Outside Inn: A Study of Skeletal Homes
Read more…: Outside Inn: A Study of Skeletal HomesBy the Fourth-Grade Class of Linda Slager, Stewart Elementary School, Oxford, Ohio Editor’s Note: Originally published in Dragonfly Magazine in the late 1990s, this student inquiry explores the engineering marvels of the ocean. After seeing how corals live side-by-side in shared skeletons, these fourth graders decided to test the limits of structural design themselves. The…
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Dem Bones: How Many Bones Are in Your Hand?
Read more…: Dem Bones: How Many Bones Are in Your Hand?By the Third-Grade Class of Thela King, Morton Elementary School, Lexington, Nebraska Editor’s Note: This inquiry is a gem from our Dragonfly Magazine archives, originally published in the late 1990s. It captures the curiosity of a third-grade classroom as they poked, prodded, and peered into the anatomy of the human hand. The Spark We started…
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Breaking the Spiral of Silence: How to Talk Climate Without the Doom and Gloom
Read more…: Breaking the Spiral of Silence: How to Talk Climate Without the Doom and GloomWe’ve all been there: you want to talk about the environment, but the conversation feels like a one-way ticket to a “Sarah McLachlan commercial” level of sadness. You worry about being too political, too nerdy, or just plain depressing. In this episode, Kevin Matteson sits down with Kait Birghenthal, President and Project Coordinator for NNOCCI…
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Bones, Beaks, Fur, and Feathers: A Barn Owl’s Buffet
Read more…: Bones, Beaks, Fur, and Feathers: A Barn Owl’s BuffetBy Ashley Pickard’s Sixth-Grade Class, National Cathedral School, Washington, D.C. Editor’s Note: Originally published in the November/December 1996 issue of Dragonfly Magazine, this vintage investigation takes us into the world of an avian predator to see what we can learn from the “leftovers” of its last meal. The Spark How can you tell what an…
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Air-OO-Planes Away: The Quest for the Ultimate Flight Design
Read more…: Air-OO-Planes Away: The Quest for the Ultimate Flight DesignBy the Fifth-Grade Students of Ms. Ursula Sexton and Mr. John Lukas, Green Valley Elementary School, Danville, California Editor’s Note: Originally published in the September/October 1996 issue of Dragonfly Magazine, this story follows a class that combined science fiction with serious scientific testing to solve the problems of future space travel. The Spark Our investigation…