Junior Kindergarten (Pre-School)
Students were given PVC tubes and connector pieces and challenged to make a free-standing tower. Aside from the stated challenge, it was 100% up to the students to collaboratively figure out how to make the tower work and stand on its own. It took a few tries, but students ultimately figured out how to make the towers stand by creating a wider base to support the structure. The engagement of kids on this task and their collaborative spirit were truly wonderful to see!
Second grade
Meanwhile, our 2nd grade art students engaged in a design challenge wherein they were tasked to use a specific artist's style to craft an "adopt-a-pet" poster to be displayed at a local animal shelter. The students took the task to heart, and the result were some fun posters. Even better? Our local shelter is currently displaying several of our students' finished products.
First grade
Our first graders read the first part of a story about Queen Victoria's Bathing Machine wherein they were introduced to the problem: Queen Victoria wanted to go swimming, but to do so privately. They collectively brainstormed their own solutions to the question before reading on to find out what really happened.
Fifth grade
Our fifth graders had a "survival challenge" that took many discrete learning elements that ranged from chemistry to physics to environmental science and integrated them into one over-arching project. Students were tasked with creating shelters that could meet several criteria, including fitting a certain number of individuals, withstanding natural forces, and using only a set amount and type of resources. Students took flight with some active brainstorming, designing and creating. Their final habitats/shelters were then tested with "real life" scenarios. The photo below shows a shelter being tested for its durability in wind, which was simulated with a leaf blower.
