Cardboard Attachment Techniques

Kindergartners visited the lab today to explore, learn, and practice using different attachment techniques. Students used thick paper while working in groups to replicate various techniques. Each student chose a different technique and worked with their team to make their own poster showcasing the different ways to attach cardboard/paper. Although some were more challenging than others, I love how the teams worked well together to successfully recreate each attachment type. Truly a "One Team" effort!

Photo Booth Props

The Office of Admissions wanted some personalized props for a photo booth activity they will be having for the Grade 1 Social event. I had the opportunity to get creative with the laser cutter and vinyl cutter to create these amazing 'Iolani props. Can't wait to meet these families and see how they incorporate these props into their photos!

Laser Cutting in First Grade

First graders are learning about empathy in their social studies curriculum. When they read they are able to make connections to characters or events in their own personal lives. The classroom teachers wanted to help their students to make an abstract concept a little more concrete with a personalized mirror and window.

Students drew their name and decorated a frame that will go around a mirror. It was scanned to the computer to be cut and etched on the laser cutter.  They used Keynote to design curtains, window sills, or potted plants to enhance their window decor. Once complete, their designs were exported to the laser cutter. These pieces will be glued to their base board.

These are some completed base boards that students designed on paper and were scanned in to the laser cutter.

Students are using Keynote to design decorations that will be cut on the laser cutter and used to enhance their windows.

Grade 2 Green Screen Introduction

Second graders visited the Design lab today to learn how green screen technology works. They had the opportunity to explore the Green Screen by Do Ink app on their iPads. Students were taught how to add videos that were recorded in front of a green screen to an uploaded background image. They also learned how to resize and position the video where it would look best on the background image.

I'm excited for their visits next week when they will be creating their own green screen videos that will be used for their Families are Forever program in March. Stay tuned for some of those priceless gems!

Makers @ Recess

We are so fortunate to have ordered four new 3D printers to replace the older models we currently have in the Lower School. A few third graders visited the Design lab today during their recess time and volunteered to help me build the 3D printers. I love seeing these little engineers communicating, problem solving, and working together!

1st Graders Debug Their Marble Runs

On the first week back from Winter Break first graders wrapped up their Marble Run Projects in the Tech Lab while learning to be debuggers! This activity is part of Unspotted Bugs lesson in the CS Fundamentals Course.

First graders learned what a bug is in programming and learned that it takes persistence to be a debugger. They applied their new debugging skills to their Marble Run projects, which they made out of cardstock and tape.

When they were ready to test they had to spot the bugs along their Marble Run and work together in pairs to debug and fix the problem.

Here's an example video of an elaborate Marble Run with tunnels and a small bug near the very end that the students had to spot and fix.