Updates on Current Projects

As I write this post, it is a rare and quiet moment in the Light Lab.  Lower School classes are rehearsing their songs for the upcoming Winter Showcase, preventing them from filling the Light Lab Studios with cheerful voices and busy hands.

Not surprisingly, I haven't had much time to document since my days are full.  I've been facilitating classes, offering workshops for faculty and helping individual students and teachers carry through project ideas. In an effort to update you, I'm offering brief descriptions and pictures of just a few projects that are currently happening.

 1A has measured, sawed, and hammered together the bodies of their covered wagons with the assistance of our very own handymen, Glenn and Jerry.  After the bodies were together I helped them attached two axles.  They loved using the power drill to screw in their wheels.  Some students looked in disbelief when I asked them to pick up the drill and try it. Later today, they will attached the support and cloth covering to complete their model.  The finishing touch will be adding their custom cargo created with Ms. Exeley's guidance in Art.  This project was a part of this class' Journey theme while studying Laura Ingalls Wilder.

Both first grade classes have been exploring Stop Motion Studio in order to create animations of changing trees as a part of their Science curriculum with Ms. B.  Ms. Kirk has also been collaborating as the students begin filming. They chose to animate one action like falling leaves, taking in water, changing colors or growing.  Their animations will be combined with a soundtrack of the children reading a beautiful poem about trees.  

Ms. Parris has been in and out of the Design Studio with many Art classes utilizing the large space and extra functions the room has to offer. The pull down electrical outlets on the ceiling made using glue guns during mask-making a lot easier!  4B made stunning depictions of civil rights leaders pictured below using the open floor space. 

Pre-K B started their Journey project by transforming ordinary cardboard boxes into the wearable bodies of cars.  They've already painted a part of the body and wheels.  Next they will add brads to the wheels to make them spin, paint their windshields and work on building simple circuits to make working headlights and car horns.  

As we reflect while using the Light Lab, I continue to make changes to the physical spaces to improve function.  More materials and furniture are being added slowly in response to student and teacher needs.  I spent some time after Thanksgiving assembling DIY acoustic panels to hang in Fabrication and Design Studios to cut down on background noise.  I'll keep you posted on how they work.

A variety of teachers attended one of three workshops offered this past month: 3D Design & Printing, Stop Motion Animation, and Little Bits.  Our teachers love to play as much as the kids.  It's wonderful to see how much enthusiasm and curiosity they are modeling for our students.  

Our new spaces and tools provide students opportunities to do projects in their own ways.  I had several visits from a fifth grader who was working independently to design Roman coins and print them out using the 3D printer.  He chose this way in order to demonstrate his learning for a culminating project.  So much fun!

Best wishes for a happy holiday season.  See you in 2017!