Kindergartners are exploring weather! We track the weather  with a graph and make our first video projects, weather forecasts.

First graders explored penguins in January. We did some science experiments about blubber and shared our learning by coding a scene in Scratch Jr. In February, we explored coding with a robot named Colby. Partnerships planned their own maze and had to write the code to get Colby through the maze. They had to use their "super coder" powers to find mistakes in their coding.

Second graders are combining all of their learning from the past units. They researched an animal that lives in the habitat box they created in the Fall. Then they used their coding experience to code an ozobot to act like that animal and they made a costume. Next up, documentary films Planet Earth style.

In January, third graders learned about coding with a program called Scratch. They also explored climate zones and created an animation about one of Earth's climate zones in Scratch. In February, we combined our Scratch coding knowledge with some circuitry and made digital instruments.

Fourth graders have been exploring all things earthquake. In January, we used k'nex and shake tables to conduct investigations about how certain structures help a building not get damaged in an earthquake. We learned a lot about the scientific process! In February, we used our learning to complete an earthquake resistant building design challenge.

Fifth graders made digital media presentations to teach first graders about our solar system in January. They chose their media (stop motion, comic, or green screen video) and their topic (gravity, the motion of the Earth, moon, and sun, or a planet in our solar system). In February, we used our circuit knowledge again. Combined with coding in Scratch, we made video games and controllers using a wonderful circuitry tool called Makey Makey.

Kindergartners explored coding! We learned how to think like a coder and give directions in order with 4 different coding games.

First graders explored sound and instruments. After investigating how instruments make sounds and how to make different pitch sounds, they worked in teams to design and build a cardboard string instrument. We also made craft stick kazoos and some 1st graders explored digital music with Garage Band.

Second graders have been exploring coding with ozobots. We have learned how to code the ozobots using markers and paper, and using block coding on Ozoblockly. Second graders have been practicing being super coders and looking for mistakes in their code. It's very detailed work.

Third graders compared weather in Lake Oswego to weather in Utkiagvik, Alaska. Then, they engineered shelters for extreme arctic winter weather like in Utkiagvik. We tested the shelters for their ability to handle heavy snow, stay warm inside, stay dry, and stay stable in strong wind.

Fourth graders explored potential and kinetic energy transfer using a skate park simulation. Then, they engineered cardstock roller coasters using their knowledge.

Fifth graders explored circuits and constellations. We looked at how constellations and other objects tell time by the patterns of motion in the night sky. Then, students created a paper circuit model of a constellation of their choosing.

Kindergartners learned about gravity and are making marble mazes. They have to use materials to create forces in their game to change the motion of the marble.

First graders used  their  knowledge of how light interacts with objects to create a laser  maze. Then we talked about how humans use light to communicate. Finally, they created their own light codes and we practiced using them as a whole class.

Second graders wrapped up their habitats  in a box. Using glue guns was a big excitement. Next up: coding and robots!

Third graders have been studying  life cycles. In iLab, they got to choose an organism to research. Then, they chose to make a board game or a stop motion animation to model the life cycle of their organism. Their model needed to show the stages of growth and how the cycle repeats and starts again.

Fourth graders connected  to their Oregon studies by thinking about important places in Oregon to them. They used google Earth to locate their places and add them to a map of Oregon. Then they explored Tinkercad and 3D design. Finally, they created a map of their Oregon in Tinkercad for 3D printing.

Fifth graders engineered emergency shelters. First, we learned about how climate change is increasing extreme weather which is in turn increasing the number of people being displaced from their homes. Then they  researched indigenous tribes shelters looking for ideas that might be good for an emergency shelter. Finally, they focused on a particular type of extreme weather and they planned, built, and tested their emergency shelter design.

Kindergartners are exploring forces and motion. We will do some experiments to learn about how force affects motion and make marble mazes.

First graders are exploring light. We tested how light interacts with different objects and we will use our knowledge of light and how it travels to complete some laser maze challenges.

Second graders are researching habitats. They will create a model of their habitat in a shoebox using our maker materials and techniques. Next up, coding and adding a robotic animal to our habitat.

Third graders have been exploring Oregon millions of years ago. They researched a time period from Oregon's past and created a model of a fossil from that time period using 3D printing and plaster. We will show off our fossils with a fossil museum. 

Fourth graders explored our musculoskeletal system by dissecting chicken wings. Then they used their knowledge of how our body's move to create prosthetics. 

Fifth graders explored food chains and food webs by dissecting owl pellets. Then they coded ozobots to model a food web and show how energy moves from one organism to another in the chain.

We are wrapping up our first project cycles! Details about each grade level project are below.  Keep  scrolling for pictures and examples from our first iLab projects.

Kindergarten are exploring shapes and building with our geometric shapes building sets. 

First graders are learning about empathy and engineering. They each interview a partner and then create something to make that person happy based on what they learned.

Second graders are exploring towers and the engineering process. They are using straws and masking tape to make towers strong enough to hold an orange 12 inches up.

Third graders explored parachutes. They created questions and investigations to learn more about what makes a parachute work.

Fourth graders explored animation and animal structures. They worked with a partner to animate an animal in motion.

Fifth graders explored coding, engineering, and empathy. They interviewed another group  and  then created a microbit  pet for that group.