Recycled Robots

Once our students understood that technology is anything that is created to help people or solve a problem, they were quick to make the connection that everything in our Collaboratory Makerspace and Recycling Center was technology!  In order to continue to fuel the excitement, I challenged the students to work together to use the technologies in our learning studio to design and create a Recycled Robot.  Younger student groups worked on their own mini robots, using egg cartons as their base item.  Older students created an extreme robot in which each group was responsible for creating one piece of the robot, and the groups had to collaborate in the end to put all of the pieces together to finalize their masterpiece.  Their energy and enthusiasm for building was contagious!   Take a peek:

Stay tuned to see the finished products on display at Back to School Night this week!

"You mean EVERYTHING is technology?!?"

The TES Collaboratory was buzzing with excitement this week!  Students were introduced to the terms "engineer" and "technology" and explained what those words meant to them.  After much exploring and discussing, the students came to some pretty great realizations and had some awesome "Aha!" moments!

"Mrs. Murro, you mean EVERYTHING is technology?"

"Wait, so you mean we can ALL be engineers?"

My personal favorite:  "I love that there are girl engineers!  It's just as cool as girl superheroes!"

The looks on their faces when they realized that pencils were just as much technology as their tablets was priceless.  Take a look below as the students explored some different technologies:

The First Week of the TES Collaboratory

The TES Collaboratory is finally open for business!  Last week, the TES designers were able to visit and begin exploring their new learning studio!  Each class from Pre-K to 4th grade had an opportunity to tour the space, ask questions, and try out all that the Collaboratory has to offer!  It was amazing to see the wonder in their eyes, the smiles on their faces, and the ideas forming in their minds!  Take a peek at some of my favorite pics from this week!

The Grand Reveal

I am so excited to share some pictures of the Collaboratory with all of you!  Our school district worked very hard over the summer getting our learning studio ready for the start of the school year, and we are so proud of the finished product!