Claire's Portfolio

Dystopian Fiction: The Giver

December 17, 2025 /

What did I do

I learned about dystopian fiction by writing academic paragraphs and discussing topics related to the book The Giver.

What did I learn?

I learned to write academic paragraphs and to use transition words when writing my summaries and CommonLit. I also learned how to build vocabulary and to have collaborative discussions.

What worked?

During our collaborative discussions, my discussion notes were helpful, and I was able to start with them. As the conversation continued, I noticed I had more thoughts, but they weren’t in my notebook. Even though I didn’t write it down, I kept talking and sharing my thoughts. I was very entertained, and I was very proud of all of the discussion.

What did not work?

I think I could improve my understanding of dehumanization, because at first, I thought it was quite weird having a human word inside it. I also think that for CommonLit, I’m missing a concluding sentence. Be sure to use “The text states…” or “For example, in the text…” to provide text evidence. My answer was also not clear. What is Jonas feeling about the upcoming ceremony?

Personal Relevance?

I think this could help me with my understanding of how we live and that we have different traits and character traits. This could help a lot in the future because it could be in my work or business, like writing a paragraph, summary, essay, etc.

Math Bake Sale Reflection

November 26, 2025 /

What did we do?

We baked a 7-layer smores bar and calculated the profit, the price of one serving, and the cost of one batch.

What did we learn?

We learned how to calculate the profit, sometimes using a double number line. We also learned how to calculate the rate and unit rate to help us find the costs.

What worked?

We were able to calculate everything in the expected time and sell them all out, without wasting any food and earning a large profit.

What did not work?

We could have baked more 7-layer s’mores bars since we sold out before the 6th graders came, and we could have made a profit.

Personal Relevance

I think overall we did great, calculating the correct cost, selling them using the correct cost, and not being biased. I think we could double-check next time, since we made some small mistakes throughout the parts.

PE Swimming Unit Reflection

November 19, 2025 /

What did I learn?

I learned how to use the snorkels and how to improve my backstroke.

What worked?

I think that swimming isn’t that tiring anymore, and I feel that I have improved significantly, judging by my speed.

What didn’t work?

I think my backstroke still needs improving. My feet just don’t seem to coordinate, and I sink sometimes.

Egg Car Reflection

November 12, 2025 /

What did I do?

We built an egg car. The goal for the egg cart is to put a raw egg inside without it cracking. We applied Newton’s Laws to do that

What did I learn?

I learned how to apply Newton’s Laws and how they apply to real life. For example, I used a seatbelt to restrain the egg from throwing forward. I used a crumple zone so that when the egg hits the brick, the reaction wouldn’t be the egg breaking, and I put a lot of weight (folded paper) for the second law

What worked?

Our egg cart successfully rolled down and, because of the crumple zone, didn’t break. This proves Newton’s third law, making a crumple zone. We also made a cube shape using paper, which kind of worked 60%. The paper, for the second law, made it very slow, so the percentage of it not cracking is about 80%

What did not work?

When we tested it, after a few successes, the egg car stopped moving and needed a push, which wasn’t allowed. We had to redo the cube to make it smaller but fit the egg. When we did it, it was time for the final, and our seatbelt ended up breaking at the end when hitting the concrete, so our egg fell out, and so we were technically disqualified even though the egg didn’t break.

Watch the video here: https://saschina-my.sharepoint.com/personal/melissa_kirwin_saschina_org/_layouts/15/stream.aspxid=%2Fpersonal%2Fmelissa%5Fkirwin%5Fsaschina%5Forg%2FDocuments%2FB1%20Egg%20Car%20Videos%2FIMG%5F0264%2Emov&referrer=StreamWebApp%2EWeb&referrerScenario=AddressBarCopied%2Eview%2E26b161ea%2D39f9%2D4845%2Dbc34%2D2e3fa42c5b15

Personal Relevance

After the experience of the egg car, I now know that for the egg car, your top, ceiling, and your whole cube have to be sturdy, or else it will fall out and everything will break. I also learned that sometimes, what looks steady might not be. For example, a group in our class had a very impressive-looking car, and we all thought they were definitely going to succeed. However, their egg ended up cracking, which was a huge surprise for everyone.

Balloon Car

November 3, 2025 /

What did I do?

The balloon car was built using tape, bottle caps, a plate, a straw, and a balloon. We used it to learn about Newton’s Laws.

What did I learn?

Newton’s 1st law states that an object at rest tends to stay at rest, and an object in motion tends to stay in motion unless acted upon by an unbalanced force. We see this law in action with the balloon car when the balloon was at rest, it tended to stay at rest, but it was acted upon by an unbalanced force, which is the air in the balloon we released, which caused it to move, so then it tended to stay in motion, but then it was stopped by the wall or sofa.

Newton’s 2nd Law states that the greater the mass of an object, the more force is needed to accelerate it. We see this law in action with the balloon car when we tested the balloons’ distance. After we recorded 3 times, we put weight on the car, causing more force needed to accelerate it.

Newton’s 3rd law states that every action has its own opposite reaction. We see this law in action with the balloon car when some of the cars go forward, which is the applied force. But then it is very slow and stops because the frictional force is pulling it back.

What worked?

I think the balloon was really fast and far, since we won. I think ours worked really well because when we were hot-gluing, my partner, Alyssa, accidentally glued the wheel to the middle. which, I think, made it more balanced, causing it to move fast and steadily.

What did not work?

When we were recording the data for the weight of the balloon, we recorded the first 3 times, and the distance kept increasing throughout the experiment. But when it came to putting on the 3 weights, the first try’s distance was very long. So when we compared the first data to the second, the first try with the weights was longer than the first and second tries without weights.

Personal Relevance

The balloon car was like a car in the real world. When I put the air in the balloon and let go, the air is like the gas in the car, and it makes it move. The unbalanced force is like the brakes, which make it stop. I see Newton’s first law in real life when sometimes people get pushed, and they tend to stay in motion, and they trip on the unbalanced force, which makes them fall on the ground, and they stay there for a while because they tend to stay at rest. It is important to know these laws because they help me, and other people in the world, to understand how and why your body stops and what is making it stop, as well as to know the 3 laws of motion. The law of inertia, the law of acceleration, and the law of action and reaction.

Volleyball Unit Reflection

October 24, 2025 /

What steps did you follow to perform a legal underhand serve? Which part do you feel you did the best?

I hit it in the right part before I tossed it. But sometimes I hit my fist, which may lead to failure. I feel best about my power. My power was just right, not too much, not too little.

How did you control the ball during your underhand serve to make sure it went over the net or hit the wall where you wanted?

I turned my body so I could control the way I wanted it to go, to the right or to the left.

What was challenging about serving the ball underhanded?

I think the only two challenging things are trying not to hit it out and controlling the ball to go the desired direction and distance.

Science Critical thinking Reflection

October 9, 2025 /

What did I do?

I used my critical thinking skills to complete challenges with Indie robots cars and build rollercoasters with Gravitrax

What did I learn?

I learned about how I would be graded for critical thinking. Critical thinking is my ability to solve problems and make the right decisions.

What worked?

I thought critically when I problem-solved a mistake for a path for the Indie robot. The indie robot was supposed to go right, so we put blue (turn right). Instead, it turned left. I noticed that there were some colors that, in my opinion, weren’t very correct. I suggested we change some things or start over. We changed the colors and got it correct after a few tries.

What did not work?

I struggled when my team members were disagreeing a little when they made towers, and one kept on making it higher, while the other disagreed. They then made their own roller coaster and then wanted to connect them. I struggled to keep them from destroying the rollercoaster, but they soon solved it and made peace 🙂

Personal Relevance

Today’s learning will help me in the future; for example, the Indie robot is like coding, and the Gravitrax is designing, so in the future, if there is any coding or designing of 3D models, it can benefit me if they need help.

Campaign for Olympic Unit Reflection 

September 24, 2025 /

What did I work on? 

During the Campaign for the Olympic unit, I worked on the Olympic PPT, as well as sketch notes, and researched about different sports. Also, some fun facts and learned the KWL chart. We also wrote notecards for the PPT, to help us memorize some script. 

What did I learn? 

I learned that wanting to let a Country to host an Olympic event is hard, considering you must research, memorize what you have to say, and be very fluent with your PPT. I also learned that Olympics is a very entertaining sport, making a lot of people excited, and a lot of people energetic. Finally, I learned that the IOC’s rubric isn’t very hard, it’s just your work is very hard, so you must practice!!!! 

What worked? 

I was able to finish and work well with my partner, helping each other when needed. For example, I couldn’t really think of some ideal details in my script, so I asked my partner Lizzy for help. She really gave me a lot of help and gave me really good tips on my script. Another example is that her Wi-Fi wasn’t really working at her house, so she couldn’t do her PPT. She emailed me for help, and I finished the PPT. I think this is great teamwork and hope to work with her next time too. 

What did not work? 

I think when the presentation day came, I memorized the script, but when other people were presenting, I noticed how fluent their words were, and they were really focused, knowing what they’re doing. So, when it came to my turn, I was really nervous, and in the middle, my mind went blank, and I forgot what to say. I had to keep on looking at the screen and notecards. I was stuttering and kept pausing, and I am very disappointed in myself. (Lizzy makes me sad, she said I got approaching and she got meeting, so she is better, and she is laughing at me🙁) 

Personal Relevance 

I think this is going to benefit me greatly in my life, because if you don’t get the grade you want for a presentation, it’s okay to make a mistake or have something you need to improve on. A lot of people also say, as I believe. Practice makes perfect and mistakes are part of learning. In my view, if you keep practicing, and you improve, it is still impossible to be totally perfect. And when you practice a lot, your presentations will be fluent, and your skills will be better. In the future, I think it can help you find a job and earn you some money💵!!! I also think like down in the logo, I can create and design more and sell them, making MONEY!!!💰 

Strike & Fielding Unit reflection

September 23, 2025 /

What did I work on? 

We worked on throwing the ball using TL Step and Throw and throwing the ball to far distance, as well as catching the ball. We also worked on running, and played Big Base.

What did I learn? 

We learned teamwork, like you running to this base, but not continue to run. We also learned how to play big base, as well as the difference between big base and Kickball.

What worked? 

We were able to run from one place to another quickly, and catch some of there balls.

What did not work? 

Some people were very frustrated and even started shouting. The other team also was very frustrated and we started arguing.

« Older posts

© 2026 Claire's Portfolio

Theme by Anders Noren — Up ↑