Lewis and Clark Learns

This morning over 175 moms, dads, grandparents, and kids gathered at Lewis & Clark to participate in a Saturday morning of play.  From 9:00-11:30 families created, built, played, laughed, smiled, and connected with one another.  It was so heartwarming to see families having so much fun together.   Stations were set up in five different areas of our school.  Cardboard arcade games made by our 3rd graders and PVC pipe building was located in our gymnasium.  Stop motion animation and FLOORS video games created by 4th graders were located in our 5th grade commons area.  In the library, families worked on Lego WeDo building and programming.  In the MakerSpace families could create with cardboard and recycled materials.  In the cafeteria, families could build with Legos, K'Nex, and TinkerToys,   Familes could also yarn bomb and play marble mazes designed and built by our 1st graders.   Mrs. Norton, one of our kindergarten teachers...

Every Thursday these 4th grade storytellers work at mastering and sharing their stories.

Every single Wednesday morning these kiddos come to the library to spend time in a good book!  

Chromebooks+Tinkercad+Perseverance+Creativity+Cura+ Ultimaker2=Gidy 5th graders!

Last Wednesday morning during Page Turner's book club these two sweet girls found themselves sitting and enjoying a great book.  15 minutes before I took this picture, Addie (a kindergartener) had come to school with her big brother who was working the early shift of the student council school store.  Addie didn't really have anywhere to go, so naturally she ended up where all the action was...the library.  There were about 45 kids reading all around the library.  Not surprising, Addie was a bit intimidated and a little worried; a tear or two leaked from her eyes.  Without missing a beat, Ava (a fourth grader) noticed what was happening and immediately took action.  She volunteered to read to Addie, she wiped away her tears, and let Addie pick the book they were going to read.  This makes my heart smile.  Kids displaying great character and showing empathy for others.  

TinkerCad Tutorials for 5th grade. 1st graders working on their insect inquiry at the standing desks...a little difficult for one!  4th graders mastering stop-motion. Allie, our resident Floors expert helps the 4th grade boys get going. 5th grade boys done checking out so they are settled in with a good book! Our interior windows get a makeover.

Bringing a MakerSpace to our library has definitely changed the way we learn in our library.  But we continually strive for a balance of making, thinking, and reading.   Yes, we read!  We read visiting author books, we read books to help us as makers, we read holiday/seasonal books.  We read for information and we read for pleasure. Page Turner Book Club members read every Wednesday morning. Book clubs read with Mrs. Haynes at lunch and at the end of the day. Our school PTA gives books to kids on their birthdays. Our library has a Little Free Library where kids can take a book anytime they wish (even if they don't bring a book to swap). We have classroom checkout times scheduled and we have open access checkout so kids can come to the library every day if they wish...and some do. I read the Building Block and Show Me Nominees aloud to K, 1st, and 2nd grade.  I read one GKCRead nominee to get our 3rd graders started on their award books, I introdu...