Wildcat Workshop
A Multidisciplinary Makerspace @ Marian Anderson School
The Wildcat Workshop is a K-8 multidisciplinary makerspace at Marian Anderson School (formerly Chester Arthur) in Philadelphia.
We make things using technology, computer science, and engineering. Along the way, we learn science, social studies, civic argumentation, storytelling, and digital citizenship. Learn more.
Interested in joining robotics, science fair, WHY Media Lab, and/or NSBE leadership council this fall? Use these forms to sign up: Grades 2-3, Grade 4, and Grades 5-8. (Please note: We will offer opportunities for K-1 in the winter/spring.)
Our school's three robotics teams competed in the Philadelphia Qualifying Tournament in December. One team made it to regionals! Read more about this program.
Seven students from Marian Anderson participated in the 2024 Carver Science Fair. Three students won awards! Learn more about our Science Research club.
Students in grades 5-8 can participate in our WHYY Media Lab program. Check out our videos of important school and community events.
Thirty students from our school in grades 4-8 participated in the 2024 Philadelphia Media and Design Competition. Of the twelve projects our school submitted, seven won awards. Learn more about this program.
The Wildcat Workshop has a 3D printer, podcasting booth, and laser cutter! Students can submit designs and propose recording projects.
What We're Working On
Navigating Our Neighborhood
Foods From Around the World
Light, Electricity, & Invention
Plants & Pollinators
Patterns, Textiles, & Encoding
Space Exploration
Lights! Camera! Action
Technologies: Past, Present, and Future
Game On!
DIGITAL CITIZEN BADGES
At Marian Anderson, our students learn to use digital tools in creative, collaborative, and constructive ways! Students can earn badges by showing that they know what it means to be good digital citizens.
Check in with a trusted adult about how often you use a digital device
Monitor how you feel when you are using a digital device
Balance the time you look at a screen with other activities, like talking to others and exercising
Use a password that has a combination of letters, numbers, capitalization, and special characters
Ensure that your password is difficult to guess
Keep password secret while sharing it with a trusted adult
Check with a trusted adult for advice
Monitor how you feel when you are engaging with media
Ask yourself, does this seem like it could be untrue or harmful to me or others?
In most cases, if you use text or an image made by someone else, ask for their permission to use it and give them credit
When searching for media to use in a presentation, apply fair use principles
Explain how computers work in terms of input, output, memory, and processing
Describe how some user actions can positively or negatively affect input, output, memory, and/or processing
Describe how and where information about you may be stored online
Reflect on what kinds of information should be shared online
Change sharing settings in Google Docs to share a file with a teacher and/or peer
Write clear, concise, and courteous emails
Post and respond on social media, websites, and shared documents with a desire to do good
Recognize, report, and refrain from cyberbullying
Identify reliable and reputable sources online
Use appropriate search terms and techniques
Use lateral reading to corroborate claims found online
Check with a trusted adult for advice