Process

EXPLORE

  1. We went for a walk around the schoolyard, then brainstormed on sticky notes: what's already there, problems we saw, and ideas for improvements.
  2. We surveyed students, teachers and parents to find out what they knew and thought about our outdoor learning spaces.
  3. We organized and analyzed our data: 4Monagan, 4Robichaud, 4Smith, 4Sparks.
  4. We learned about ecosystems in science class, experimented with sensors in tech class, and saw how forest ecologists use sensors on a field trip to Harvard Forest.
  5. We identified criteria and constraints for the project.

CREATE

  1. We brainstormed ideas and decided who wanted to work on what (chose teams).
  2. We researched similar products.
  3. We created plans and designs.
  4. We measured, hammered, painted, glued, collected and analyzed data, programmed, and more!
  5. We tested, redesigned, rebuilt and tested again.

SHARE

  1. We put all our creations outside for Ready, Set, Glow on September 28, 2018. Ready, Set, Glow is a big outdoor dance party and fun walk that takes place in the evening. We had signs and students to direct families across the driveway to the science garden, vernal pool and nature trail. The obstacle course, fairy garden, and scavenger hunt were very popular.
  2. We gave tours for students and teachers from younger grades during MA STEM Week, October 22-26, 2018. Teachers really liked the benches and the new bridge. Kids really liked the zen garden and the garden gnomes.