4th Grade Idea Lab Update: Architecture

4th graders are having a great time while learning about architecture!  We are learning the architectural features of various architectural styles, the elements of art, and the principles of design.  

Our creations of architectural styles began with a bit of convergent thinking-- students had to put together a 3 dimensional puzzle with well-known architectural masterpieces and feats of engineering from around the world.  Students used instructions and visual plans to build these models in small groups piece by piece.

Students also labeled architectural masterpieces from around the world.  

Students created their own architectural glossaries with sketches of architectural features and famous buildings that have those features.

They also made a digital timeline of architectural styles.

 

Then, students researched a particular architectural style of interest, created a slideshow to teach others, and are presently working on a 3D model in that architectural style.  The work required a bit of divergent thinking as we were only allowed to use recyclable materials to create our designs. We hope to invite you to our presentations when our work is finished.  Stay tuned...

This has been an interesting, hands-on unit for us!

 

First Lego League Super Powered!

 Could not be prouder of these Spoede kids! 

Unlike the 4th grade First Lego League Challenge which is a competitive challenge-- offering only 3 awards, the First Lego League Explore is definitely more of an Expo and a celebration of learning.  The 2nd and 3rd grade teams all receive awards highlighting their strengths. At the EXPLORE level, all teams are equal winners.  Nationwide at the end of each season, participating teams gather for a regional/local exhibition to present their results, share ideas, and have a great time together!  We hope you enjoyed listening to the students' presentations, seeing all of their different models, and witnessing the future generation realize their power and potential to build a better future.  

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 

Idea Lab Update: 3rd Grade

We welcomed some new members to Idea Lab this year! It was wonderful to meet our new teammates.  In order to get to know each other a little better, we each designed a mini Lego Bot Prototype that is like ourselves and different than ourselves in many ways.  

We introduced ourselves to our new teammates by presenting our Lego Bots. We explained the similarities and differences between our Bots and ourselves.

There has been a change in the order of our units this semester.  We are taking a pause from our LEGOS for a little while to explore the continent of South America.  In our continent study, we will explore these essential questions: 

Why is it important to the global community to protect the rainforests?

How do we balance the use of resources from the rainforest with the importance of maintaining biodiversity and a flourishing rainforest ecosystem?

How can we protect natural habitats?

We learned a little bit about the continent of South America first before exploring these essential questions and focusing on the rainforest ecosystem.  

Each student used their creativity to create a country collage about a country in South America that they there were interested in learning more about.  

Students will also learn about the physical and political features of South America.  

Students learned about the incredibly rich ecosystem: the Amazon Rainforest that stretches across 9 countries in South America.  Students learned about the many plant and animal species in the rainforest, and the important role it plays in limiting climate change.

*We will pick up our FIRST Lego League unit, SUPERPOWERED, in the second quarter of school as our competition has been scheduled for early February and will take place at Reed Elementary.