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.