Every Piece Counts: Building Builders, Creators, and Innovators!

School:: Mossy Head Elementary
Subject:: STEM Education
Teacher:: Allie Blanton
: Sara Roos
Students Impacted:: 150
Grade:: Pre K - 5
Date:: October 4, 2021

Investor

Thank you to the following investor for funding this grant.

The St. Joe Community Foundation - $1,453.27

Impact to My Classroom

# of Students Impacted: 185

The students had so much fun with the LEGOs! Students were able to come to library and work in the LEGO Makerspace area and I took the LEGOs to them. Teachers were given tickets that they could give to their students as they chose, but were encourage to use them as rewards. Students would use their tickets to come and work for 20 minutes. They would choose one of the provided challenges, build, and sign the LEGO Log. I also took the LEGOs to some classes. I read the book, LEGO Manufacturers, The Kristiansen Family by Lee Slater, to first grade classes as an example of information you can get from non-fiction books. Then the classes got to build. Because of teacher shortages, I was scheduled to cover a 5th ELA block with 2 other teachers. We collaborated and used LEGOs as a behavior incentive. Students could earn LEGOs and add them to a class build. Each of the three classes had their own base plate that they added their LEGOs to, and it was neat to see how different each class' build was. We also used the LEGO wall as part of the background for the school news show. The Mustang News Crew created a couple of designs for this. The news crew members and student library helpers were also very helpful with setting up the LEGO Makerspace area, maintaining it, and adding creations to it.

Students created all sorts of things but here are a few: easter eggs, crane, cactus, swimming pool, trains, robots, robins, rainbows, gardens, school bus, parrot, house, flowers, trees.

grant photo

Original Grant Overview

Goal

The goal of this project is to provide students with an opportunity, space, and materials to explore, create, and share ideas. I want to cultivate and promote student interests in and passion for Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math. This grant would provide the materials to construct a LEGO wall and provide the bricks and other building materials, supplies, and storage to create a more developed and focused makerspace area.

What will be done with my students

1. I will give each classroom teacher two "(School Mascot) Makerspace" tickets. Teachers may give these tickets out as rewards for behavior and academics.
2. Students will bring their tickets to the library to redeem them during the school day. Students will sign into the LEGO Log before they begin their projects.
3. Students will choose one of 3 to 4 provided activities. I will provide 3 to 4 STEAM activities in the makerspace and rotate them out on a bi-weekly to monthly basis depending on the activity and connection to the classroom. I will collaborate with teachers so that these activities relate to topics being studied in the classrooms (ART, Science, Math, Character Trait of focus, Book study, etc.).
The Makerspace will be open to students, K-5, throughout the school year during "open" library hours.
Example Activities:
* Building Character: Use LEGO bricks and pieces to create your name on the LEGO wall in a way that tells us something about you!

*ART: Add on to this month's (School mascot) Mosaic! This month we are recreating "The Starry Night" by Vincent Van Gogh.

*Science: Build a model of a plant and label the parts of the plant. BONUS: add models of the sources of energy that a plant uses or needs.

* Free Build: Choose a set of building plans and following the directions to build the structure of your choice OR build completely from you imagination.

Benefits to my students

Students will be provided with multiple opportunities to explore, create, and develop critical thinking skills with materials and structure that they may not otherwise have access to. Students will be able to make decisions about their own learning. They will get to choose the level of creativity they are comfortable working at and they will be free from the pressure of performing academically. It will also give students the opportunity to see if they are interested in LEGOs and test their skills before they reach the age where they will be able to join a LEGO First League Team.
I will track student participation using the LEGO Log. At the end of the year, I will give a brief survey to all the students that used the makerspace as a way to collect feedback. I can then use the feedback to develop the makerspace further the next school year.

Makerspaces provide a place for
students to explore questions, bounce
ideas off one another, build something
together, fail and try again all in a
safe, creative environment.
-Lori Gracey
Executive Director
TCEA

Budget Narrative

The plywood, adhesive, and 66 LEGO baseplates will be used to make the LEGO wall. The remaining baseplates provide another work area for students that can also be displayed easily. The storage containers and drawers will be used to organize and store the LEGO pieces. The LEGO sets will provide students with the quantity and variety of pieces they will need to build their creations.

Items

#	Item	Cost
1	2 of sheets of 1/2" 4 x 8 plywood	$48.10
2	10 LOCTITE PL Premium FAST GRAB 10-fl oz Polyurethane Construction Adhesive	$84.80
3	80 ELGO Base plates	$639.20
4	12 Large Tint Stackable Storage Drawers	$239.88
5	2 LEGO Classic Creative Transparent Bricks 11013	$59.98
6	10 Drawer Rolling Cart by Simply Tidy	$29.99
7	2 LEGO Classic Large Creative Brick Box Build Your Own Creative Toys, Kids Building Kit 10698	$87.98
8	LEGO Classic Around the World 11015 Building Kit	$49.99
9	2LEGO Classic Bricks and Wheels Kids' Building Toy 11014	$79.98
10	LEGO Classic Bricks and Houses Kids' Building Toy Starter Set 11008	$16.39
11	2 LEGO Bricks Bricks Bricks	$119.98
	Total:	$1,456.27

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