Caption: PACA elementary students pose with their project in the Maker Space room. [by Livia Huang]
by Mariana Helfer (Warrior Post Reporter / São Paulo, Brazil)
Starting this school year, the Pan American Christian Academy (PACA) introduced a brand-new class called Maker Space to the elementary and middle school curriculums for the purpose of providing new experiences for their learning.
According to Maker Space teacher, Livia Hwang, the class encourages students to be creative in their learning. As stated in one lesson, students will learn to have a creative mind “like our creator” while teaching critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Students learn to use 3D printers which are used for printing three dimensional models from computer to plastic. They also learn to use the new “micro:bit” device produced by Microsoft that can be used for programming digital games. These activities and projects emphasize collaboration between classmates as they take on real-world challenges.
Caption: This micro:bit V2 starter kit can be purchased on Amazon.com. [photo provided by Amazon]
According to a seventh grade student, the projects are exciting because they emphasize creativity and teamwork.
The Maker Space class takes place in room H3, where the former computer lab used to be. After a renovation during the summer break, the classroom was ready to accommodate the new class, with round tables for sitting in groups, and equipped with various tools they might need.
“I like the class because we get to do fun projects,” said André Helfer, a first grade student.
One of the projects that students are working on in the class is third grade making a model of a kite made with only paper and strings. Seventh grade is learning how to conduct electricity from a potato, fourth grade is building 3D models, eighth grade is recreating a video game in real life using only recycled materials, and first grade is building a bridge made out of paper that is strong enough to hold a lot of weight.
“When we fold the paper in a zigzag pattern, the paper is able to hold more weight.” André added, explaining his learnings with the paper bridge project.
Besides the introduction of the Maker Space class, we have also got other new classes for high school this year, those being speech and journalism taught by Dr. Cristina Meier, and Functional fitness taught by Eliana Castanho.
Mariana:
Congratulations! God bless you.