thinking lab

 

 

 

Essential Question (unit 1):

What defines a community?

 

 

Students will explore different ways that animals use their senses to perceive the world around them.  Experiencing various perceptions will guide students to understanding the diverse aspects of a community. Students will also explore their senses to perceive various pieces of artwork. Students will use these understandings to create a work of art that appeals to a specific individual (human or animal).

 

 

 

 

Essential Question (unit 2):

How can innovation impact place?

 

In this unit students will learn about energy and how it transfers and transforms. They will show what they have learned through creating informational pop-up books. They will learn about the basics of paper construction for moveable books as well.

 

Students will practice being:

 

Ambilingual: Students will need to be able to communicate their understanding of energy concepts in a variety of ways, including through a pop-up book.

Creative and Innovative: Students will demonstrate energy concepts in creative ways. Students will innovate their own ways of demonstrating energy concepts through the pop-up books.

 

 

Essential Question (unit 3):

As designers, how can we reduce sound in our learning spaces?

 

In this unit, students will create a functional and beautiful installation: Students identify loud spaces in the school community and collaboratively design and test various solutions. Students will use the engineering design process to create an installation that serves function and beauty.

 

Students wil practice being:

 

Ambilingual: Students will present their functional & beautiful installation to an audience of their choice(teachers in chosen spaces, students in chosen spaces, an outside expert, admin, etc) with a medium of their choice (possibly: iMovie, in person with experts, timelapse, unveiling of piece with artist statement, etc)

 

Enthusiastic and Committed: Students will learn from mistakes, embrace/adapt to change, and follow engineering design process to actively test and improve product.

Collaborative: Students  will not only work with one another, but work with their client.  Students assume shared responsibility with one another as well as work with larger community by adapting to changing schedules and contexts, incorporate feedback, and dealing with criticism