Family Heritage Boxes with 2nd Grade

In the 4th grade social studies classes, our students have been learning about family heritage. Part of their research involved interviewing their parents and grandparents.

The teachers wanted to make some type of project using the engineering design process and design thinking. We came up with the idea of making a box that the students could personalize and take home at the end of the unit.

As part of the interview, the students asked the adults to think about a symbol that would represent a part of their parent's and grandparent's life. The students picked 3 symbols and made a 2x2 inch pencil drawings of each one.

Then in the Lab, we scanned each symbol, cut & pasted them to an Inkscape template and laser cut the box pieces. The students glued the boxes together and had a great keepsake to take home.

Kindergarten Solved A Problem

Our K-Mauka class had a problem. The stylus' for their iPads kept rolling out of their mailboxes. Also, every time a group needed their stylus', each student had to go get their own. The students and teachers knew their had to be a better way. So they brainstormed what could be done to solve the problem.

Enter the Lower School FabLab...We brought the class into the Lab, and using the engineering design process, came up with a plan.
     *The stylus' need to be in a container.
     *There are 3 different work groups so we would need 3 different containers
     *Each group would need to decide on a shape & size for the container and what material it would
        be made out of.

Each group met to solve their problem:
     Red group wanted a rectangular box made of plastic
     Yellow group wanted a cylinder made out of wood
     Blue group wanted an oval box made out of metal

So the Lab created a mini prototype of the rectangular and cylinder box. We don't have the ability to work with metal, so that created an additional problem for the Blue group the next time we would meet.

At our next session, the students looked at their mini prototypes and had the challenge of figuring out what dimensions their final box would have. Blue group also needed to pick a different plastic. With guidance from the teacher, and use of rulers and drawings, each group came up with measurements for their box. Also, the red group changed their material from plastic to wood.

After the students left, the Lab created "real size" prototypes for each group. Our next step would be to see if the dimensions we picked were good or if we had to make more improvements.

The students came back to the Lab and tested the prototypes. Each group got their prototype and put their stylus in them to see if they were the right size. Each group realized that their original size needed to be adjusted. We noted the changes and the next step is to make the "real" containers.

The box and the cylinder were made on the laser cutter. The students are going to glue them pieces together and then test them again by putting their stylus inside. The oval container was made on the 3D printer. 

The children glued the cylinder and box together in their classroom. They then tested all the containers to see if they would hold the stylus'. Each one was great and their problem was solved.

More Recess Projects

Here are some recent photos of things our students have been making during their recess time.

Sixth Grade Personal Symbols

Our 6th graders were learning about memoirs. Part of their study included looking at symbols that could represent what a person stood for or believed in. The 6th grade teachers challenged the students to think of a symbol that would represent themselves. We brought each class into the Lab and explained what would happen next. Taking them through the Engineering Design Process, they would come up with their personal symbol and we would cut it out on the laser cutter.

Back in class, they brainstormed ideas of possible symbols and then came up with one that they felt best represented who they were. On a 3x5 card they drew it in pencil and then went over it in pen or fine-tipped marker.

After scanning the drawings, we created the printing file on Inkscape and made a 3x5 box that would raster the picture out.

The final products turned out great. Here you can see the original drawing along with the laser cut version of their symbol. 

Necessity is the mother of invention...

We have a Silhouette Vinyl Cutter in the Lab but no place to store our rolls of vinyl. Along comes a few minutes for me to be creative and now we have a holder for our vinyl. Some wood, a few quick cuts on the laser cutter and a little glue is all it took.

Improved Knee Braces

After all the testing, each class sat down and discussed the braces they made. We looked at examples of real braces and at one made with the same materials they had access to. The biggest issue with the first round of braces was that they didn't consider that the knee is a joint. Each group was then given time to imagine, plan and create an improved brace. Below are some photos of the improved braces.

1st Grade Makes Sounds

The first grade is using the EiE Unit on Seeing Sounds. After learning about how sounds are made, they are experimenting with making a homemade guitar and then trying to figure out how to "damp" or quite the sound.

Knee Braces and Testing

Each group created knee braces and we put them through 3 tests to see if they met the criteria we established. The three tests were: range of motion, usability and durability. 

Once all the braces are tested, we will look at them individually and begin the next step...improve.

Kindergarten Explored Fabrics and Created Buttons

In their science class, our kindergarten students were learning about fabric and all the things you can do with it. They discovered how it is dyed and woven. They worked on using needles and thread to sew beads and buttons. Towards the end of their unit, the students had questions about buttons, so they made their own out of paper.

To finish up this unit, we brought them to the Lab and showed them how buttons can be mass produced. We went through the engineering design process and decided to make two different shape buttons out of wood...squares and circles. We used the laser cutter to cut out a sheet of buttons.

We also wanted them to see the 3D printer at work, so we created a button and printed it on out.

We talked about what a prototype is and how it helps us practice before we make our final product. Each student was given a cardboard buttons (our prototype) and wooden buttons (our final product).

They took the buttons back to their class, practiced creating a design for their button on the prototype, and then make the final product on the wooden button.