It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

Even the Lab is getting into the holiday spirit.  

Students in various grades have been challenged to create holiday decorations
from materials in the Lab.

Zometool present created by Grade 6

Candy cane and Christmas tree forest created by Grade 2

Wreath created by Grade 6

It works!

It is the moment that the students of the Lower School and Early Childhood have been waiting for - the Big Ball Tower is finished and it works!  Congratulations to Karl and Aidan!  All of your perseverance, problem solving and hard work has payed off. 

Parents' Turn in the Innovation Lab

This week at the Mission Party, parents got their turn to try some of the challenges the students have been working on this year.

There was the Sphero Hay Maze, the Makey-Makey Skeleton Operation Game and more.

If you did not have time to stop by the Lab during the Mission Party but are interested in what your child(ren) are doing in STEAM, please sign up for a conference on November 15 or 16. 

Sphero Hay Maze

This time of year many people visits farms and try to find their way out of hay and corn mazes.  So this week the Early Childhood and Lower School classes have had the opportunity to try to get Sphero out of a K'nex hay maze.

The hay maze will be one of many activities available for parents to try in the STEAM Lab during the Mission Party next week.  Come see if you are able to get out.

Monkeys

Why are there so many monkeys in the Innovation Lab?

Students in all grades are fascinated by the stuffed monkeys in the Lab.  However, the monkeys have a real purpose in the Lab.  They are to remind the students that they are in charge of their learning path in the lab.  In the Lab it is not "monkey see, monkey do".  We want the students to individualize their projects to their own interests and skills.  They are to challenge themselves to be creative and problem solvers.

Grade Four Web Sites

ePortfolio Website Design

In Grade 4 students start working with partners on individual projects using the Creative Learning Systems Launchers.  To document their work they each created their own website using Google Sites.
On these ePortfolios the students will post their journals and presentations about their work on their projects.  Each year in Middle School they will add an additional page to continue to document their projects. 

For privacy these sites are only accessible to those with a Holy Child Academy email address. 

When students are in Grade 8 they are given the option to change the publish setting to allow others (including admission counselors at high schools) to view their sites.  You are welcome to ask your child to log on and show you their site. 

 

LEGOs, LEGOs, Everywhere!

LEGOs in the Lab

LEGOs are everywhere in the Lab.  They are used in Early Childhood, Lower School and Middle School classes.  They are used for Mechanics and Structures challenges but for much more.  

First Grade using LEGOs to model coding loops and functions.

Eli and Marin (Grade 8) are designing and building their own EV3 LEGO robot.

This year we also started a LEGO Lunch for students in Grades 1-4.  On Day 4 of each rotation students have lunch together in the Lab and then work on LEGO projects during recess.  The goal is for students to enter their projects in late winter at a First LEGO League Jr. competition. 

LEGO Lunch Moon Rover Robot