Students have been busy creating, exploring, and problem solving in both Makerspace and Technology classes this spring.
Makerspace
This spring in Makerspace, students explored art by learning about influential artists and artistic styles. They studied artists such as Pablo Picasso and Vincent Van Gogh, discovering what made their work unique and how their styles shaped the art world. After learning about these artists, students created their own artwork inspired by the techniques and styles they studied. Through this process, students gained an understanding of basic art techniques and genres while developing their own creativity.
Students created their own interpretations of Van Gogh’s Starry Night, practicing techniques such as intentional brush strokes and texture using oil pastels to design their own skies filled with stars. As part of this activity, students also reflected on Psalm 19:1 and how all of creation, including the skies, proclaims the glory and beauty of God. Students also explored Picasso’s love of shapes, lines, perspective, and color as they designed abstract guitars. Using a technique called pastel staining, they created bold and expressive pieces that showcased their growing artistic skills.
Technology
This quarter, students explored the world of coding through Code.org. As a class, they discussed foundational coding principles and learned how code can be used to build complex digital projects. As a culminating activity, Third through Fifth Grade students created their own chase games using Code.org. In these games, students applied coding concepts such as conditional programming and variables to design interactive games from scratch.
Meanwhile, Sixth and Seventh Grade students have finalized the vision for their fictional companies and are now focusing on branding, marketing, and advertising as they promote their businesses. Students explored how branding influences a company’s success by researching well known companies such as Starbucks and Nike. Through this research, they examined how companies build and maintain strong brand identities and then applied these ideas as they developed the branding for their own companies.
