Lewis and Clark Learns

At first glance you may look at this photo and think that what you see is a group of kids sitting and watching another student roll a Sphero Robotic Ball.  What actually happens before, during, and after this photo is pure unsolicited collaboration between kids.  Here is what really went down this morning in our Library Maker Center... Mrs. Raney's 5th grade class was in the library working on their Genius Hour projects and Mrs. Neth's 3rd grade class was in checking out books.  Corbin (5th grader) was busy working hard on his Sphero obstacle course.  Naturally, as the third grade kiddos finished checking out, their attention turned toward the Sphero. They quietly started to gather around and watch what Corbin was working on.  I was working in another area of the library when I heard a loud group groan that got my attention.  When I arrived near the group, it was clear to see that Corbin ALMOST made it through his obstacle course after many unsucce...

Grade 3 makers started their Monday morning early with a new session of MakerKid's Club.  We started with a challenge and we ended with... We will pick up here next Monday and reflect on the process, design, decisions, failures, teamwork, and results.

                                      Our Week: thinking, learning, problem solving, collaborating, building, tinkering, designing, planning, and LOVING our larger MakerSpace!                                      

Lewis and Clark Christmas lists look a little different this year thanks to our MakerSpace.  So many kids have shared with me what they are asking for this year for Christmas and upcoming birthdays.  My students are asking for littlebits, MaKeyMaKeys, snap circuits, knitting needles, OSMO and of course Sphero robotic balls.  I can't wait to see what shows up under their trees and in their stockings.   This never would have happened if I hadn't received the LSDF Grant! My students would not have known what most of those materials were if they had not experienced them in our MakerSpace.  So thank you LSDF for helping me show my students what is possible!

Our early release schedule means that I have kids for just 30 minutes and will see them the next day we are in school for their entire 50 minutes.  Last Friday (12/19) we used our early release schedule to account for our school sing along and the winter parties.  So kids in library specials had a day of choice and they loved it! Through our Genius Hour philosophy the kids always have a choice but they still really love an extra choice day.   I try to set out different experiences each time, so this time the kids could...use the Sphero robotic balls, learn with OSMO, build with Legos, K'Nex, or TinkerToys, play a variety of games of logic, coding on the ipads, or play chess with a friend.   The kids tell me those 30 minutes are the fastest minutes ever!

There is no better feeling than seeing your students take what they have learned and independently go about their learning!  The Wednesday before our winter break was one of those great days.  My third and fourth graders were totally focused on their Genius Hour topic and they made so much progress in such a short amount of time. I was so happy for them as I watched them problem-solve, help one another, fail and carry on from that failure.   As I walked around the library I saw 2 kids figuring out how to make an origami ninja star together, one student watching a video to learn the basics of knitting, 4 girls making their first cheer bow, kids figuring out how to use 2 Sphero robotic balls among 6 people, 4 boys not moving from their spot because they were so engrossed in planning their video games, girls tinkering to figure out how things work, 2 girls deciding to learn to crochet first because they read that it would make knitting easier, kids deciding they still n...

Genius Hour Learning... Learning to knit with pencils...waiting for our knitting needles to come in! Using our MakerSpace whiteboard to plan the upcoming LCTV5 Newscast.  Finding out what is possible with LittleBits. Amazing learning, questioning, and  inquiry is happening every day at LC!

We had a great day today!  So many experiences to take in.  Early release days mean that I only see the kids for 30 minute sessions, so it is considered a choice day for kids.  Fortunately, I will see the same groups on Monday for our regularly scheduled time.  Today, kids had the following options: Games of Logic, Legos, K'Nex, TinkerToys, Osmo, or MakerSpace Apps.  We were busy all day... Legos Rush Hour Osmo Games Of Logic TinkerToy Structures