2nd Grade Idea Lab Update

 Second graders have been hard at work this quarter!  We got our creative juices flowing right off the bat! The students were challenged to create something that represented themselves using only one piece of paper, scissors, and coloring tools. 

Then, we jumped right into our First Lego League Unit-- Masterpiece! 

First Lego League involves a bit of convergent thinking-- building models exactly as shown in images to try out robotic programming as well as divergent thinking-- building models and creating robotic programming using our creativity and imagination.  

The goal for the FLL Masterpiece season is for students to create a Team Model that showcases their team's passion and interests.  The Team Model must include a robotic component, show innovation, and impact on the world.  
Team members must work effectively together and of course, have fun! 

After our Team Models are complete, we will work on a display board and produce a presentation for judges and an audience. We are excited to show you all of our learning and discoveries on Saturday, November 18th.  More details will be coming about this event!
Please save the date. You won't want to miss it! 

Welcome new 1st Graders!

So excited to welcome our new 1st graders to Idea Lab!

We began our first couple of sessions getting to know each other and tapping into our creativity. We started by reading a book, Rosie Revere Engineer.  This book is about pursuing one's passions and learning that there will be setbacks along the way.  All of those mishaps help us learn and grow.  After reading this story, students were challenged to engineer their own creation of Legos that represents who they are.  

The LEGO creations should be symbolic of their own interests, talents, or hobbies.  The students would share their Lego creations with the class so that we all could get to know each other better. 

On the second day, students took a True Colors Personality Quiz and Learning Styles Quiz which helped students learn about themselves. After taking these self-inventories, students created a 3D Name Sculpture with all of the letters in their name. They used what they learned about themselves as well as their hobbies and interests to decorate the letters in their name.  We learned a lot about the students from their name sculptures.  

After getting to know each other, we were introduced to special P.E.T.S. characters from Crystal Pond Woods that will help us learn in new and different ways. P.E.T.S. stands for Primary Education Thinking Skills.  Dudley the Detective, Isabel the Inventor, Sybil the Scientist, Yolanda the Yarnspinner, Max the Magician, and Jordan the Judge will help us understand different kinds of thinking... like convergent analysis, divergent synthesis, visual/spatial, and evaluative thinking. We will continue to ask ourselves: What areas of thinking come easily and naturally for me? What are some areas that I can work on improving?.  

We began practicing our different types of thinking with the character, Max the Magician, and visual/spatial thinking. The emphasis is on stimulating each child’s spatial intelligence by analyzing spatial relationships, reconstructing the parts into new wholes, and making predictions.  Students are asked to look for patterns and find a solution that works.

Activities that help us with visual-spatial thinking include puzzles, like the special 7-piece Chinese Tangram puzzle. Students took home a paper set of Tangram puzzle pieces to practice.

We also learned to play the game, Blink. This is a fast-paced card game where students race to find matches in shape, color, or number.  The student who uses up all of their cards to find matches first wins.  

SET is a more difficult game that we learned to play. A SET consists of 3 cards in which each of the cards' features are the same on each card or are different on each card. All of the features must separately satisfy this rule.  Click the image to try the game SET. 

Katamino (Family) is a block puzzle game where two players race to fill in the puzzle with the correct blocks that fit. 

The object of the game, Kanoodle is to fit all 12 puzzle pieces on the board.  As the game gets harder, you start out with fewer and fewer puzzle pieces. 

Puzzles, in general, are great for practicing visual-spatial thinking. 

We also focus on social-emotional awareness in Idea Lab. We learned about positive self-talk this past week and how it can encourage us during challenging moments. If you would like to see some of the strategies we talked about, click HERE. 

We have really enjoyed getting to know each other in Idea Lab.  We look forward to having some fun challenges ahead.  We will keep you updated along the way.  

Farewell Fourth Grade: Final Video & Goodbye

 Students were able to share their ideas for their final challenge: How can we repurpose a vacant lot into a community gem? 

4th Grade Idea Lab students shared their ideas with 3rd grade students (who acted as our community members). 3rd grade students asked many questions and gave feedback on the students' ideas. 

Please ask your student about the idea that they shared. Students shared in many ways-- 3D models, digital 2D/3D rendering, slideshows, or I-movies. We were impressed with their creativity and their sincere desire to help create an idea that would help their community.

Prior to this challenge, students were given a chance to experiment with a digital floor plan. Students were asked to create a bedroom, bathroom, and closet that met exact size specifications. Once students finished this, they could try their hand at making a whole house floor plan.

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I may have to hire a few of these designers for myself one day!!!

We culminated our year with peer-voted awards and a video that shares some of our highlights together.

HERE IS THE FAREWELL FOURTH GRADE VIDEO

that we shared during our last class.

I will truly miss this group of students. Not only were they brilliant-- they were happy, funny, caring, and hard-working.

It is no wonder that they were winning teamwork and innovation awards. They have a special place in my heart!!!

Once a turtle...always a turtle.

Please don't be strangers and come back to visit!!

3rd Grade Scratch Projects: Teaching About Countries in Africa

 Students created Scratch projects to teach others about some of the countries in Africa.  You're probably thinking..."What is Scratch?" 

Scratch (created by M.I.T.)  is the world's largest coding community for children.  It uses visual block-based programming to create games, stories, animations, or even lessons. 

Since students are very new to the Scratch interface and coding, we were very impressed with what they were able to accomplish in such a short amount of time.  

Click HERE to view our projects to learn about some of the countries in Africa. 

We have had a great school year. I sincerely hope that the students enjoyed their time in Idea Lab.  

I hope your child has a wonderful summer, and I look forward to continuing our adventures when we return in August! 
 

Relax, have fun, and pursue your passions, kids! 

First Grade Update: How Can We Help Our World's Oceans?

 We learned a lot about our world's oceans and some of the common problems associated with threatening the health of our world's oceans and ecosystems. After finding out about plastics and microplastics ending up in our world's oceans, students were challenged to create a prototype for a machine that could assist with plastic clean-up in the world's oceans.

To adequately solve this problem, we not only need to stop more plastic from entering the ocean but also clean up what is already out there.

Click HERE to learn about an actual invention helping to clean up plastic in the ocean.  

Here is a design created by Avya, Carlo, & Emilia.

Here is another design by David, Liya, & Russell.

And another design by Antonio, Ariana, & Yousef

And a design by Aiden, Emily (absent on final reveal day), & Harrison  

Click HERE and HERE to see some of our prototypes in action.
Students attached motors and created programs that allowed their prototypes to move.

Then, we created t-shirts that advertised ways to help our world's oceans. 

Loved seeing the students' creativity and their messages for the public about protecting our oceans.
We are finishing up the school year learning about world geography and physical features.  This will help us with an upcoming project-based learning unit in second grade's Idea Lab.  

We've really enjoyed getting to know each other this year in Idea Lab.  We look forward to our continued adventures together!

2nd Grade Idea Lab: Cardboard Arcade Challenge

Our Idea Lab second graders would like to share our Cardboard Arcade games with you. Please click HERE to view.

Fourth Grade: Architecture Unit Update

 When students finished their 3D models and presentations, they taught their peers about a particular style of architecture in history. 

Students had to note particular features, find buildings both in the world and around St. Louis in that style, and create a quiz for their peers to give at the end of the presentation.  

After learning about architectural features and styles, students learned that architects and engineers work together to create stable, safe structures.  There are many different types of engineers that work with architects.  Students tried their hand at civil engineering by planning a two-level parking garage that had to hold 8 toy cars safely, an on/off ramp, entrance, exit, and parking spaces.  

Our prototypes consisted of wooden Keva planks, but students learned that steel and concrete would most likely be used to hold the weight of many vehicles.

Students learned about the requirements and constraints that many architects and engineers have to face. 

Recently, students took a field trip to the Missouri History Museum and participated in a hands-on experience called Building Brick City.

Students learned about many architectural features and styles right here in St. Louis.  

Students discussed the past and the present with the guidance of history museum docents.

There were many really cool St. Louis artifacts to see and read about.

The students learned about the design process and making of the St. Louis Arch.  If our present design had not won the concept, see what might have been in place of the St. Louis Arch.  Many agreed that we like the look of the present Arch and its symbolism the best.  

We also saw and read about interesting trivia related to St. Louis architecture.  If this interests you, I highly suggest taking the family there for a visit.  It's free, and it's part of the Color STL exhibit which is also really fun for all ages.  

The second part of the field trip involved a hands-on experiment and design challenge.  
Challenge: Design a home that can withstand a common St. Louis problem (flooding). 
Experiment first with materials to find the best material for your home's design.  
Students worked in teams to complete the experiment first and then worked individually on a home design.  

We have really enjoyed learning about architecture.  As you take a drive around the St. Louis area, I hope the students take note of what we've learned and share their knowledge with you.  There are so many wonderful architectural features and styles in our city.