Vocabulary Videos

May 27, 2020 | Ms. Jonker

Air pressure, drag, thrust, propeller.

These are some of the important vocabulary words that students are encountering in our current STEAM study about flight and rocketry.

Luca uses a balloon to explain surface area.

In word study these past few weeks, students learned words for the concepts they are exploring both in their STEAM research and their paper airplanes activities. Adventurous students created videos about these new words and concepts. They are excellent teachers.

Tristan explains his thinking about rudders.

Kyle hypothesizes about the air resistance on a plastic bottle vs. a pencil.

Many students have been using objects from home to give everyday examples of the concepts they are explaining.

Ashley thinks about the aerodynamics of a pencil.

…What about a roll of ribbon?

Anna uses a parachute to help teach about air resistance.

We use FlipGrid to make our videos. The students have creatively used this resource to teach about what they know and reflect! Some have created animated videos so that they can draw as they explain the concept.

A snapshot of Julia’s video animation about forces

These videos are great practice for our upcoming STEAM presentations, when students will teach about their topics using these new vocabulary words. We hope you will be able to join us at 9AM on June 12! Stay tuned for more information, including zoom links.

Kat Jonker

Teacher, Grades 4

Kat Jonker is energized by how passionately Mustard Seed School nurtures each student to blossom into the person God has made them to be. She’s honored to teach and learn beside the fourth and fifth grade students here.

Ms. Jonker’s always been surrounded and inspired by dedicated teachers--including her mother! When she began teaching private violin lessons as a high school student, Ms. Jonker began to think about teaching as a career. Soon she realized her passion for teaching and learning as an Elementary Education with an integrated science major at Calvin College. There she flourished as an assistant teacher at Calvin’s middle school chemistry camp. She also led elementary nature programs at Calvin’s ecosystem preserve.

Music remains one of Ms. Jonkers passions and you’ll sometimes get to hear her playing in worship. She’s an avid violin player and spent a disproportionately large amount of her college life in string quartet rehearsals. She listens to music constantly and likes to keep it eclectic, so if you have any music recommendations, send them her way.

Grand Rapids, Michigan, is Ms. Jonker’s home town. Through God-gifted communities of faith there, she found her roots in grace and a life of service.

Vocabulary Videos

Kat Jonker

Related Stories

Camp Bernie

Math Update

Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry