The Primary School Lasseron Design Lab was renovated in summer 2022, providing a flexible learning space for students to exercise their imagination.
Studio equipment includes robots (Dash and Dots, BeeBots), construction materials (Kapla blocks), a 3-D printer, Little Bits (circuits), and numerous other tools and making supplies.
Maker-centered learning has been an essential aspect of the WIS curriculum for over a decade. At the Primary School, it happens in discrete Design Technology classes for Grades 3-5 students, as well as STEAM learning integrated into Grades 1-5 Units of Inquiry.
As an example of how work in the Design Lab is incorporated into classroom learning, the Grade 4 PYP Unit of Inquiry “Light & Sound” introduced the principles of vibration, frequency, and amplitude by asking students to create their own prototypes of an acoustic guitar. They considered the ergonomic design and playability of the guitar as well as its acoustic properties, prompted by questions from their teacher:
- What makes the sound in a guitar? Can you explain it using everyday words?
- If you could design a guitar that looks like anything, what would it be?
- How can we make sure our guitars are not just fun to play but also look cool?
- Why do you think it's important for a guitar to be easy to hold and play?
- Can you imagine a guitar that looks really different but still sounds good?
- What's the coolest thing you've learned about making guitars so far?
- Why is it fun to be creative and use our imagination in this project?
See below for photos of guitar-making in action!
