Our Lady of the Lake School: Brick by Brick

The castle constructed by the kindergartners of Our Lady of the Lake School.

The enthusiasm surrounding Our Lady of the Lake School is contagious. Students in kindergarten through eighth grade participated in their annual STEM week. Each grade level chose a math-infused theme with the incorporation of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics to present to the community. The community showcase also included grade level line dances. STEM week was made possible due to the dedication of Tracy Davis and a grant from the Talty Family Foundation. Students and teachers took learning to a whole new level.

The following is a sample of the projects completed by each grade level:

The kindergarten students traveled to the world of medieval castles. Students constructed a classroom-size castle using 3-dimensional building blocks. They also made and demonstrated the use of a catapult.

The first graders went back in time to explore science and mathematics on the Oregon Trail. Students did plenty of measuring while studying the different states of matter making butter, and other yummy treats.

The second graders explored shapes and patterns by solving the mystery of “Who Borrowed Mr. Bear?” Students studied footprints and performed different lab tests in order to gather evidence to solve their mystery.

Third graders blasted off into space studying rocketry, angles, and power. Students constructed pen rockets and discussed which angle and power was needed to get their rockets to fly the fastest.

The fourth graders of Our Lady of the Lake explored “Everything Penguins.”  They created power points telling about one of 17 species of penguins. Students also demonstrated how countershading helps protect penguins from predators.

The fifth graders were busy incorporating math into the sport of baseball. The fifth graders started off by visiting Classic Park in Eastlake to measure various distances. When they returned to school, they used these measurements to create "dot" art.  A very exciting moment was when the students got to run a concession stand. The students discussed cost, profit, and inventory.  

Sixth grade spent the week building tetrahedron kites and geodesic domes. The domes seemed to take over the classrooms! They are very strong structures that taught the students architecture for which you need all-encompassing math skills. 

Seventh graders constructed theodolites using various materials supplied by the grant from the Talty Family Foundation.  Students then took the theodolites out into the surrounding neighborhood to survey the land. They culminated the project by drawing a scale map of the neighborhood.

Eighth graders studied survival math in the South Pacific. Students applied algebraic thinking to real-life problem-solving. They also used literature, reading works such as "Lord of the Flies" and "Not Without Hope," which helped them to see how STEM applies in situations of survival. They also talked about faith in survival, a welcome addition in our Catholic school. 

This was truly an extraordinary week of learning on each grade level. Students also participated in math guesstimations.  The afternoon lent itself to Instant Challenges in which students worked as a team to construct an object using materials provided in seven minutes or less.  STEM projects clearly take learning to a whole new level.

Lauren Zbiegien

By: Jennifer Millett and Lauren Zbiegien

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Volume 4, Issue 5, Posted 1:14 PM, 06.07.2013