two Students were given the following materials and asked to make a marshmallow catapult and optionally to upload a video of their success or attempt:

• 1 marshmallow, 8 craft sticks, 4 rubber bands, 1 binder clip, 1 paper cup, 1 spoon, 2 pipe cleaners, and masking tape.

If you haven't picked up your Marshmallow Catapult Challenge Kit, stop by the Open Lab to get one.  We are offering an advanced challenge that requires launching a marshmallow using only one hand.

We are excited to show off the first two video submissions sent in by students:

Our PAS visitors participated in a SparkTruck-inspired Vibrobots workshop in which they brainstormed lists of land and water animals, and then combined them into mythical creatures (e.g. lion+dolphin).  To bring their creations to life, they made simple circuits from pager motors and coin cell batteries, and then decorated them with craft sticks, pipe cleaners, pom poms, and googly eyes.

It was a light-hearted tinkering activity that relied on creativity, spontaneity, and perseverance (motors don't always do what you expect!).

— Tatian Greenleaf

We've had a delightful time this week collaborating with our Kliptown Youth Program friends from South Africa.  During two one-hour sessions in the Open Lab, we built wire and paper sculptures to "make something spin" and we created claymation videos around the topic of "growing" (e.g. nature, children, families, etc.) using our classroom iPads.

Our friends commented on their experience tinkering and we found that their observations were quite similar to our own work with our students.  We discussed themes including creativity, perseverance, teamwork, overcoming fears, playfulness, and taking pride in your own work.  

— Tatian Greenleaf

Looking back on two weeks of Cardboard World, we noticed some themes that emerged.  Not only did students of all four grades (2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th) create houses, vehicles, animals, and ball games, but they also showed Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)/Tinkering skills such as cooperation, caring, perseverance, creativity, and ingenuity.  Everyone understood and accepted the concepts of impermanence ("We will be recycling and reusing all of the materials at the end of the week.") and respect ("It's okay to add to or change someone else's creation as long as you do so respectfully.  And know that someone else may change what you have built.").  Cardboard World may have ended but these skills carry forward into other projects. 

​— Tatian Greenleaf 

There was a buzz in the air as 3rd and 4th graders (next week, 2nd and 5th graders) lined up to construct their Cardboard World creations.  Using cardboard and simple prototyping materials such as masking tape and markers, students created cars, ball games, alien creatures, cats, and houses.  Since our design space is outdoors this year, come by and check it out in the breezeway!

From October 5-16, Mark Day School will join the Imagination Foundation and 75,564 global participants from 38 countries in the 4th Annual Global Cardboard Challenge. The Global Cardboard Challenge is a celebration of creative play inspired by the short film Caine's Arcade. The challenge is simple: make something creative out of cardboard. Mark Day School will participate through a community project we are calling, "Cardboard World." Thanks to household cardboard donated through the "Tinkerer's Treasure Drive," students in 2nd-5th grades will have the opportunity to collectively create a "Cardboard World" in the enclosed breezeway off of the quad during lunch recess. The experience will give students the chance to make something with their hands, give new life to some cardboard before it hits the recycling bin, and work together to create a communal art installation in which no single element is owned by any one artist alone. 

This is our second year participating in the Global Cardboard Challenge. If your child is not in 2nd-5th grade and is excited by the idea, any student may make something on their own to add to Cardboard World. All contributions are welcome! Please contact Bonnie Nishihara, Assistant Head for Education Design and Innovation, with any questions.  Learn more about Global Cardboard Challenge events world wide by visiting the following link: http://cardboardchallenge.com

At lunch time each day, we've invited students to join us for Open Tinkering in the Open Lab.  Students can take apart electronic equipment to discover and discuss the components that make up each product, learn to design and print 3D models, create creatures and costumes from craft materials, make custom boxes on the laser cutter, or come up with a unique invention...

Our upper division tinkering elective taught by our Tinkerer-In-Residence, David St. Martin, has been featured on the National Association of Independent Schools Inspiration Lab website.  To see the article, visit http://inspirationlab.org/story/7349.

For weeks now, 5th grader Henry has been coming to the Open Lab to print out 3D models of a LEGO piece he is designing.  His goal is to model and print a working 2x4 block:

Henry is on his 5th iteration of the block.  Each design revision has taken careful measurement, calculation, and positioning in Tinkercad, an online tool provided by Autodesk that students in my 7th and 8th grade 3D modeling elective use.  TinkerCad provides enough initial framework for students like Henry and others who come at lunch time to the Lab to build simple models on their own and to gain confidence with the tool.  Henry's focus and determination have been impressive as he comes to collect his failed pieces, learning from their errors and continually adjusting his model:

Here are the models in order from left to right:

The fourth design has been the closest to an actual LEGO piece.  It fits onto and under an existing LEGO piece but isn't tight enough to remain in place well.  Stay tuned... I think Henry is very close to achieving his goal!

I spoke to Henry about 3D modeling and LEGOS and this is what he had to say:

Playing some laser-cut ukulele as they mull their own instrument design challenges!