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Jessica Varela @VarelaUmbrella�jvarela@thelamplighterschool.org

The Lamplighter School

@LightingLamps

Lausanne Learning

@LausanneLearn

Presentation Link: http://bit.ly/2lw2dn5

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Design Thinking & Makerspace in the Primary Classroom

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What are you currently doing with makerspaces or design thinking?

What questions do you have?

Where do we go from here?

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Intersection of Models for Teaching & Learning

How do we balance?

Where do we focus?

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Intersection of Design Thinking & Making

Where do we see�primary education?

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Design Thinking

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Why Maker Ed and Design?

Develop maker mindset in primary age children�
Increase proficiency with tools and skills to design for the common good�
Adopt an attitude of failure (giving children a chance to iterate)�
Bring to the forefront the knowledge that kids have always wanted to make!

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The Beginning

Began with an “Elevated” Creation Station

Used Think-Make-Innovate as our framework for our first STEM challenge

First task was to create something that moves = too difficult

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Yearly Plan At-A-Glance

Materials Library
Project-Based Learning
Tinkering
Coding
Graphic Design
Empathy

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Materials Library & Lesson Structure or “Sprints”�

Lesson 1: Exploration	Lesson 2: Skill Build	Lesson 3: Challenge	Lesson 4: Reflect
Introduce the new material. Create Materials Library with a focus on the science content knowledge Explore Materials in stations: “Tinker, Notice, Reflect”	Introduce and learn related skills. Refine skills in stations practicing with various tools: “Tinker, Notice, Reflect”	Introduce challenge using Lesson 1’s material and skills Use Design Journal to: “Think, Plan, Make”	Evaluate and innovate previous week’s product Use Design Journal to: “Observe, iterate, reflect”

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Materials Library - Sprint Cycles

Surfaces/Structure:

Paper
Foam
Cardboard
Wood
Fabric
Metal
Plastic

Fasteners

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Design Journal

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Material Close Up - Paper

Introduce material and tools�
Take notes in Materials Library�
Exploration with material to teach specific skills�
Challenge to integrate skills and solve a problem as a group

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Material Close Up - Wood

Introduce material and tools�
Take notes in Materials Library�
Exploration with material to teach specific skills�
Challenge to integrate skills and solve a problem as a group

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Material Close Up - Cardboard

Introduce material and tools�
Take notes in Materials Library�
Exploration with material to teach specific skills�
Challenge to integrate skills and solve a problem as a group

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Cardboard in Action

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PBL

Driving Question: How can one person make a difference in their community?

Created the town inspired by Last Stop on Market Street to teach economics and how to solve problems in a community.

Incorporated our work with various materials, fasteners and tools.

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Coding

The purpose of the coding unit is to provide the basics of computer science skills

Sequencing is the main focus

Prepare them for future coding work with robotics.

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Tinkering

Inspired by Harvard’s Project Zero’s Thinking Routines to develop the skills to look closely at an object and explore the parts, purposes, and complexities:

Explored and took apart an object as a class
Examined and took an object apart independently
Invented an improved version of this item

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Tinkering in Action

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Tinkering Integration - Circuitry

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Exploration

Snap Circuits Jr. - Simple circuit building

Little Bits - Simple circuit building

Makey Makey - Incorporating circuitry into other fields (gaming, music, coding)

Squishy Circuits - Incorporating circuitry with other materials �� TED Talk with Anne Marie Thomas on Squishy Circuits

Big Maker Book by Colleen Graves

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Graphic Design

Teach fundamentals of graphic design with vector graphics

Graphic design components of composition, image making, working with color and shape

Allow students to create images that will be printed on a vinyl cutter

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Sprint Cycle for Graphic Design & Vinyl Printing�

Sprint 1:	Sprint 2:	Sprint 3:	Sprint 4:
Explore - Step by Step Sketching Skill Building - Basics of Using Lines & Shapes to Draw Anything Challenge - Draw a Specific Object	Explore - Pattern Blocks Skill Building - Using Pattern Blocks to Make a Composite Shape Challenge - Use Pattern Blocks to Identify Common Shapes in Obejcts Around Us,Then Draw An Object Without Pattern Blocks	Explore - Vectr Software Skill Building - Techniques of the Vectr Program Challenge - Use Vectr to All Make the Same Object	Explore - A Specific Self Chosen Object Skill Building - Draw, Use Pattern Blocks to Configure Object Challenge - Use Vectr to Make Self Chosen Object

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Empathy

Develop empathy through storybook engineering

Apply empathy gathering techniques to characters in storybooks

Global Storybook Engineers Jr. suggests books like:

Rapunzel (how else could she get down from the tower?!)
Jack (other possibilities than a bean stalk?!)
Strega Nona (stop that spaghetti!!)

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Other Literacy Tie-Ins

If I Had a Robot

If I Built a Car

Doll-E 1.0

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Genius Hour

Cooperative Learning is our version of Genius Hour.

Cooperative Learning Boxes are a way to introduce a tool to a small group of students.

Students can earn badges for the tools they become experts in and can then teach others, or use those tools unsupervised.

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Example of Cooperative Learning Boxes

Building:�-Planks�-Lego Challenge�-Contraptions�-Kinex�-Chairs�-Jenga�-Suspend�-Crazy Gears

Cooperative Board & Card Games :�-Count Your Chickens�-Treasure�-Rat-a-tat-tat�-Too Many Monkeys��

�

Maze Games:�-Laser Maze�-Gravity Maze

Other Ideas:�-Origami�-Fashion Design�-Beading�-Rainbow Loom��Also...�Coding �Augmented Reality �Circuitry�Crafting Tools

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Outcomes

Confidence, engagement and authentic ownership of learning �
Increased creativity through various games & activities built into daily routines�
Growing ability to work well together, share ideas and communicate effectively