2nd Grade Structure Building

Our 2nd graders are making statues that symbolize our school. So far they have made a small symbol in the Lab that will go on their statue. Now they need to making the pedestal for the statue. Before that happens, they came into the Lab for a lesson on structures and the forces that act on them. We talked about gravity and how structures need to be both strong and stable.

They were then challenged to build a bridge out of one piece of printer paper that would hold 40 pennies. They could do anything they wanted to the paper. The only constraints were they couldn't tape the bridge to the piers or anything else and the pennies all had to be in the span and not on top of the piers. During the design challenge, they also kept a log or their designs, how many pennies the bridge held, what some strengths were and what they could improve on.

Here's what some of them did:

Next class they are going to start building prototypes for their pedestal out of paper, and then they'll make the final one out of cardboard. Can't wait to see what they come up with.

Kindergarten Creates Plant Packages

The kindergarten classes are using the Engineering is Elementary program from the Science Museum of Boston. This unit is designing and creating plant packages. Here are some of the designs the kids have come up with.

After asking questions and looking at the different materials they could use in their package, each group brainstormed different ideas. After everyone shared, the group decided on some key requirements for the package and stared to design them.

The next class started with the base package (either 1/2 gallon juice containers or 2 litter soda bottles) prepped and ready. All difficult cuts and alterations to the packages were made by the teacher. Students were then given the rest of their material and it was time to follow their plan and create their plant package.

2nd Grader Makers Crates with PlayDough-3D Scans-3D Prints

This 2nd grader had the idea that she wanted to print a 3D giraffe. Taking a different approach from her first 3D print, she decided to start with play-dough. She made her giraffe and then went over to the 3D scanner. After 7minute (she reminded me how long it took), she sent the file over to one of our printers. About 2 hrs later, her print was done. Another happy face in the Lab.

3rd Grade Mini-Society Signs and Buttons

Our 3rd grade classes had their "Mini-Society" which culminates what they have studied about society, cultures, business, math, etc. This year, the Lab was used to make business signs and buttons. The students designed them and the Lab produced them. One class decided that to pay for the signs and buttons, they would use some of the "taxes" they had been collecting. Below are some pictures of the signs that were made. You will also notice some of the businesses are games. These games were made at home with the child's parents....so "Making" happens everywhere.

These rings were made in the Lab. This young business man was running a ring toss game and needed rings. He figured out the diameter of the outside and the inside of a ring, then drew it with a compass. Next he used Inkscape to create the rings and we laser cut them out.

2nd Grade Girl Designs and Prints 3D Bear

One of our 2nd grade young ladies decided she wanted to try her hand at 3D design and printing. Her plan was to make a 3D teddy bear. So after drawing it out and figuring out the size she wanted it to be, she got on 123D Design at one of our MacBook Airs and began to create. It took her a few days at recess but she finally got it the way she wanted.

So off to the printer it went and in a few hours (actually it took about 4)...

She had a 3D printed bear that she designed.

Next, she took off the support pieces...

And a bear was born.

Are you familiar with the story, "If you give a mouse a cookie..."? I like to think that if you give a kid the freedom to create, you never know what you'll get. This is what a 7year old can do if she/he is given the chance. Can't wait to see what she makes next.