Where the Garage Meets the Classroom
Making things, problem solving and learning-by-doing have been at the heart of Unquowa since our school’s inception in 1917. Our school’s 1500 sq ft makerspace provides us with bigger and better space for activities that involve making, un-making, tinkering and designing. It is the place where the garage meets the classroom, and offers students a chance to bring their ideas to life using materials ranging from wood, metal and fabric to robotic components and 3-D printing.
Ice Faces
Posted by Joey Casey
We love it when a plan comes together! 2nd graders finished making silicone ice cube moulds in Makerspace and had so much fun in the process. The project came about while sitting in 2nd grade science class, where students were learning about states of matter. The topic was water and how it can change back-and-forth from liquid to solid. This discussion sparked the simple question, could we make ice cube moulds? The answer, a resounding yes. Each student created a CAD (computer aided design) file with a drawing of a face and a shape. Each file was 3D printed and then assembled for mould making. Students mixed equal parts to prepare the food-grade silicone and poured the mixture into cups. After the silicone was set and dry, the 3D print was taken out and voila! Ice cube mould. We filled them with water, froze them overnight and then had a chance to see the finished product. Everyone was excited to make ice cubes at home with their moulds! Perhaps they’ll get more use during the heat of the summer and will add some fun to cups for sure.
Building Houses!
Posted by Joey Casey
Lampshade Designers!
Posted by Joey Casey
Woodworking!
Posted by Joey Casey
Unbe-WEAVE-able!
Posted by Krissy Ponden
Is weaving an art or a craft? That was the question that sixth graders started with as they journeyed through the history of textile production and landed squarely in the middle of contemporary fiber arts. We learned that weaving can be utilitarian, fine art, or it can even be a powerful social statement as seen in the work of Sonya Clark. Students created their own looms using Adobe Illustrator and then printed them on wood using the laser cutter in the Makerspace. They then added the traditional warp and weft strings to create a weaving that complemented the looms. So is weaving an art or a craft? Sixth graders would say it is both!
Building R2D2
Posted by Eric Werner
Geometry students have completed the prototype and the final build of our 8th Grade math project is underway! Students have mapped out the construction process and have begun to trace, cut, and sand isosceles triangles to build the dome for their 2.5 meter tall R2D2. They have tested various hinge arrangements to attach the triangles and seem to have settled on a good working model. Stay tuned for more updates from the Unquowa Industrial Automaton and Makerspace!
