Playful Exploration

On Friday, November 5th 4th grade students participated in an amazing enrichment opportunity provided by the generosity of TESPTO called Playful Engineers Traveling Maker Space. Each class had an hour and a half workshop led by Jay Mankita students first watched demonstrations of how common materials (e.g. blocks, legos, balls, wooden rods, K-nex) could be transformed into simple machines and chain reaction machines in a Rube Goldberg style.  Next, students were able to explore the materials to create their own chain reaction machines.  Students imagined, created, problem solved, persevered, and collaborated.  And they failed many times.  But in this workshop students experienced the joys of practice leading to progress and failure leading to success.