DCS STEM Class

During their November STEM classes, kindergarten students completed the Dinner Table Challenge. Given a set of dishes, students used a limited set of materials to create a table that could hold all of the food items on a flat surface. Tables also needed to include legs to elevate the food items off of the ground. In addition to designing their tables, students also envisioned and built seating for all of the guests who would be enjoying the meal.  Take a look at some of their table creations below!  

During the fall harvest season, our 1st and 2nd graders worked on creating baskets that could be used to transport gourds from one point to another. Given a kit of materials, students brainstormed possible ways to use the items to build a basket that included both a space where the gourds could be inserted and held in place and a sturdy handle that would allow the user to carry the gourds.  As you'll see in the photos below, students created a wide variety of successful basket designs!  

During their STEM class on Monday, first grade students learned a bit about the voting process and the containers that are used to hold votes after people complete their ballots. Following this learning, students worked as designers to work to create their own ballot boxes. Boxes could take any shape or form, but needed to have a slot able to accommodate an index card-sized ballot. Take a look at some of their creations below!

Our 3rd and 4th graders have spent their October STEM classes exploring catapults! Given a small kit filled with potential building materials, students tinkered and tested multiple designs to try to develop a catapult that could send a Unifix cube "pumpkin" flying as far as possible, while also providing control and accuracy.  During their second STEM class, students put their catapult designs to the test in the Catapult Olympics. The six stations tasked students with a long-distance launch, trying to hit a target, landing their cube in a bucket, sending their pumpkin up and over a stack of boxes, attempting to knock over a stack of cups with their pumpkin, and trying to make their pumpkin fly through a hula hoop. Throughout the Olympics, students kept tinkering with their catapult designs as they continued to seek an optimal design.  Check out some photos of the action below!

During their fall work in STEM, our kindergarten classes have been exploring the properties of various building materials and their potential uses for accomplishing tasks. In their most recent round of challenges, students designed gates large enough to hold five pumpkins and also devised chain reactions that could topple a ghost. Check out some samples of their work below! 5 Little Pumpkin Gates "Ghostbusting" Chain Reactions  

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed many things about our daily lives. These shifts provide an authentic opportunity for makers to design and develop items to respond to new, emergent needs and challenges.  In their first project of the year, 7th & 8th graders are identifying needs and challenges posed by the ongoing pandemic and selecting a problem that can be addressed through 3D printing and design. The first photo above shows two iterations of a mask-holding bracelet, which is designed to allow a user to hang onto their mask while keeping their hands free. The photo below shows several, student-created versions of an item called "earsavers," which wrap around the back of one's head and hold the loops of an earmask, alleviating some of the discomfort that can come from wearing a mask all day. Finally, one highly motivated 7th grade student took independent initiative on this need-responsive printing project to create and print a new feeder for her chicken, Kiwi. Afte...

During their first STEM lessons, PreK students met our STEM class mascot -- Q -- and learned about what it means to be a "Curious Creator." After spending time designing their own Q in their first class, PreK engineers spent their second class building towers that could support Q. With their bags containing an assortment of building materials, students explored the different ways the items could be combined to yield a stable and tall tower. Check out some of their inventive towers below!