Collaboratory Corner

April Adventures

Our Collaboratory Cubs embarked on many adventures this week!  Take a look at what we have been doing:

In Pre-K, we are eagerly awaiting some weather that feels like spring because we are so excited to see the flowers grow in the TES Outdoor Learning Center.  But our Pre-K students decided that they didn't want to wait any longer, so they completed a special challenge:  How might we create beautiful flowers that can survive without soil, sunlight, or water?  The Pre-K students designed and built beautiful flowers out of connecting cubes that we are going to place on the border of the raised garden in the TES Outdoor Learning Center next week!  Now everyone can enjoy some flowers at any time of the year!

In kindergarten, our students began their next Engineering Is Elementary unit called "Designing Solar Ovens".  We started the first part of the intro story titled Lerato Cooks Up a Plan where we learned how much the main character enjoys weaving baskets.  We decided to go on a hunt to find some materials in nature that would be good for weaving baskets.  Mrs. Smith even brought in a cool handwoven basket for our kinders to check out!

In first grade, our students also began their next Engineering Is Elementary unit.  This unit is called "Designing Maglev Systems".  We started the first part of the intro story titled Hikaru's Toy Troubles where we learned that Hikaru's family's toy store needs to get more customers to stay in business, so our first grade engineers designed and prototyped some new toys that they think would be top sellers!

In second grade, our environmental engineers completed their water filtration systems!  They planned, prototyped, and improved their water filter designs to make them the best that they could be, and I am so proud of their finished products! 

In third grade, the students continued on with their submersibles unit by completing all of their research and exploring the results of their experiments.  They are now mass, volume, and density experts!  They can't wait to start planning their submersible designs next week!

In fourth grade, our students are getting ready for Earth Day by designing and creating all of the gear and equipment needed to play Recycled Baseball!  Recycled Baseball is played just like regular baseball, except everything needed and used in the game must be made out of recycled materials.  Next week, our fourth grade classes will take on Mr. Flake's PE classes in a special Recycled Baseball tournament! Fingers crossed for beautiful weather so that we can play in the great outdoors as another way to honor Earth Day!

We are looking forward to another exciting week in the TES Collaboratory!