Designing Animal-Friendly Sleds at Graland

After reading the book, the students discussed the characters and storyline, looking for ways to relate to the story. With the help from their teacher Mrs. Elizabeth Leddy, the following objective was to design a sled for an imaginary animal friend. With the help of popsicle sticks, pipe cleaners, and masking tape, the students embraced the challenge. The goal aimed to foster creativity, problem-solving, and resilience among the young learners.

Once the sleds were crafted, the students were met with the opportunity to test their designs on improvised "sledding hills." This phase of the activity introduced an element of unpredictability and challenge. Some students found their sleds falling apart during the test, while others grappled with the challenge of the sled sticking to the "sledding hill." 

This is where perseverance took the stage. Rather than viewing setbacks as obstacles, the students saw them as opportunities for improvement. Some chose to iterate their designs for speed enhancements, while others engaged in the balance of troubleshooting and modifying their creations, addressing a spectrum of skill development areas. Creativity came into play as students envisioned and brought sleds to life for their imagined animal friends. Spatial planning played a significant role as they taped popsicle sticks together, enhancing their spatial reasoning abilities.

The lesson also delved into fine motor skills, with students encouraged to tear tape using their thumb and pointer fingers. Although straightforward, this task holds immense importance for our youngest learners, contributing to improved abilities in writing, dressing, eating, and handling objects like LEGOs or puzzles. 

Through trial and error, students learned the value of redesigning to improve their creations. This approach not only enriched their problem-solving skills but also introduced them to the concept of continuous improvement – a lesson that extends far beyond the walls of the lab.