Building Bridges with Kindergarten Students

For the past week and a half, one of our kindergarden classes (K-Leahi) has been busy studying, learning and building bridges. Using Engineering is Elementary from the Science Museum-Boston as a guide, our youngest makers learned about structures, forces, and material properties. They made predictions, tested for results and recorded their data. At the same time all that was going on, these little ones were having fun. Here are a few pictures of what we did...more will be added in the future:

Testing different bridge structures.

Examining different materials.

Imagining possible bridge designs.

Creating the bridges

Epilog Laser Rotary Attachment

We opened the Lab over a year ago and I am just now getting around to play with the rotary attachment that came with our Epilog Laser cutter. This thing is so cool. If you don't have one, you gotta order it. It's simple to attach and just as easy to use. Here's my first attempt. Can't wait for the staff and kids to come up with ideas.

I put the green paper in so you could see it better.

Our 100th Post...3rd Grade Finish Their Own Desk Caddies...Take A Look.

First, this is kind of a milestone for our blog...our 100th post. I debated on what to put online...maybe a editorial on the state of making in education or a review of our most popular posts to date.

No...what better way to celebrate our 100th entry into the world of "MakerEd" then a true teacher inspired, student designed and created project. On August 26th two of our 3rd grade classes began the design process to make desk caddies.

They imagined their design after asking questions about what things the cubby would hold, how big it was to be, etc. Then they planned it, made drawings and listing the dimensions they wanted each piece. Next the created a prototype out of cardboard...sometimes 2 or 3 versions. Last, they created a final design on the computer (with the teachers help) and laser cut the pieces. They glued them together and here, 6 weeks later, is what they got...

A Busy September...

Wow...just looked at our blog stats and in September, we had 604 page views...our previous high number had been 401 in July. The whole reason for starting this blog was to record how we started and what we do in the Lab here at 'Iolani's Lower School.

I don't think our numbers are anything special, but I do hope that all those who have visited us were able to take something away. Whether it was an idea to do with their class or information that helps justify the starting of a makerspace at their school...if we can help one teacher help one child find their voice in their learning, then this blog is worth it.

If you have any comments (positive or negative) please make them.

"Even if you don't have access to expensive...hardware, every classroom can become a makerspace where kids and teachers learn together through direct experience with an assortment of high and low tech materials."

Gary Stager and Sylvia Martinez

"Invent To Learn"