Today was the payoff: we spent the afternoon building the birdfeeders that we had planned. Students used a variety of recycled materials to make their bird feeders and one of my favourite parts of the afternoon was the variety of results. This was definitely a case where there was more than one right answer.
Even with all our careful drawings and plans, I was still very much on deck cutting last minute holes, so I didn't get process photos, but while I was cutting, students were solving last minute problems like that the popsicle sticks they'd planned on taping extending horizontal to the outside of their yogurt container weren't going to stay there, at least not without a lot of extra support.
A variety of solutions happened--some students used the lip as a fulcrum, some asked for a hole in the plastic to help stabilize the stick, some glued popsicle sticks onto the surface of the container to build up a lip they could use as a support.
That problem solving is where all the learning happens--I saw it when we did our last design challenge as well. Students apply skills that they then consolidate and apply next time. And the independence they showed throughout this challenge was also refreshing, because they're learning to trust themselves and their ability to solve problems.
Here's the results (a couple of students didn't want photos today--but everyone completed the challenge with flying colours):
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| Here's the triangle support from the side |
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| 2 birdhouses, 1 birthday ribbon |
All this makes me think we might do a third design challenge--maybe hats? maybe shoes?
Have a great weekend!
Sincerely,
Ms. Goegan
