Idea Lab Update: 2nd & 3rd Grade

Students are reimagining the future of energy.  They are learning about energy sources, storage, and consumption with our First Lego League unit.  They are utilizing divergent thinking by constructing their own energy sources, storage systems, and consumers all with Lego pieces.  
They are also utilizing convergent thinking by using step-by-step model directions and learning to code/program our Legos with special battery-powered motors and sensors.  
The students have created solar panels, wind turbines, hydroelectric dams, biomass energy farms, and much more.  We think you will be impressed with their ingenuity.  

We hope you will save the date so that every student in 2nd and 3rd grade will be able to join us on February 4th.  

Thank you to Mel's mom for talking with 3Ja and 3P about her job relating to the use of energy consumption.  
If you know anyone in the field of energy that would be willing to come and talk to our class, please let me know.  We would love to have them.  More information to come closer to the date...
We are very excited about this opportunity.  

Thank you!

Idea Lab Update: 1st Grade

 This quarter, our Idea Lab 1st graders continued to learn in new and different ways like our friends at Crystal Pond Woods.  We continued to strengthen our visual-spatial intelligence with tangrams and special puzzles. 

We learned to play games like Blokus and Quirkle to become better at visual-spatial thinking and also think strategically.  

We strengthened our divergent (inventive) thinking by playing the Idea Lab's version of Scattegories.

We thought in creative and divergent ways when we read the books, Not a Box and Not a Stick by Antoniette Portis.  We loved creating things out of boxes and sticks.

We continued divergent thinking by creating our own ocean-themed stop-motion videos.  We hoped you liked the videos that we shared with you.

We practiced convergent thinking by learning to solve logic puzzles, playing logic math games, and following step-by-step instructions to build objects.  

Welcome to our new Idea Lab members:  Aiden, Avya, David, and Harrison.  We look forward to getting to know you and hope you really enjoy Idea Lab!  

Have a great winter break 1st Graders!  You have worked hard and deserve a nice, relaxing break with your family!

First Lego League Challenge: 4th Grade

 Our 4th Grade Idea Lab students represented Spoede well this past weekend at Ladue's First Lego League Challenge.  Amongst 10 teams from across the district, Spoede teams won the Innovation Project award and the Teamwork award.  They did amazing.  So proud of these kids!  

This year's theme was SuperPowered.  The students were challenged to reimagine the future of energy-- improve an existing energy source or create a new one.  The theme addresses global challenges related to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal #7 -- focused on ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all.  It was a super interesting and difficult topic, and we learned greatly.  We have a highlights video link from the season as well as our presentation recordings from the day.  

Click here for: Kinetic Kids Highlights from the Season 
Click here for: Kinetic Kids Innovation Project Presentation

Click here for: Energy Innovators Highlights from the Season 
Click here for: Energy Innovators Innovation Project Presentation

Lisa Schreiner

Idea Lab Teacher

Spoede Elementary School