Collaboratory Corner

The Collaboratory Cubs Close Out the 2018-2019 School Year

The end of the school year is always a whirlwind of finishing up projects, preparing for the summer, and reminiscing about all of the fun memories from the school year.  Take a peek at how our Collaboratory Cubs closed out another awesome school year!

Our Morning Pre-K class enjoyed their first mini-makerspace day by designing the first letter of their names!  The students loved using the pool noodle pieces for their creations!

Our Afternoon Pre-K class worked through their very first Engineering is Elementary unit called "Designing Trash Collectors".  Our youngest students transformed into environmental engineers who researched pollution and worked to save our favorite story character:  Danny the Duck!  The students worked through every step of the Engineering Design Process by testing trash collector materials, imagining ideas for their own trash collectors, and creating trash collectors based off of their own blueprinted designs.  Thanks to their hard work, they were able to save Danny the Duck!  These kiddos are definitely ready for our Kindergarten units next year!

Our kindergarten engineers finished designing and creating their solar ovens using the materials that the students decided were the best thermal insulators.  They even got to test their solar ovens on a sunny day by making s'mores in their ovens to deliver to their teachers!

Our first grade engineers became magnet experts by doing all types of experiments to test the properties of magnets!  Then, they used what they learned to design and create their own maglev train tracks!

Our second grade environmental engineers tested a variety of different materials to see which were the most effective at containing and removing oil from water.  Based off of their findings, the students designed, created, tested, and improved their own oil spill clean-up processes!  I was so impressed with their hard work and determination! 

Our third graders were able to finish up their simple machines unit!  The students rotated through stations where they were able to measure and compare the force exerted with and without the help of their favorite simple machines.  They even had an opportunity to combine simple machines to design their own creations that were able to help make work easier around our school!

Our fourth grade electrical engineers designed and created their own alarm circuits complete with lights and sound!  They even improved their designs along the way!  I was so proud of their perseverance during this unit!

Our Collaboratory Cubs had another AMAZING year, and I am already looking forward to our adventures next year!  Thank you for your continued support throughout this journey!  Have a wonderful summer!