Cindy explained she has been involved with a STEM grant which is an intense program that involved 2 days of training last spring, 8 days of classes this past summer, an online book study, and development of a unit that uses the Engineering Design Process in our classrooms. Linda Mrazik (I will highlight next week) and her were chosen to participate, along with 28 other K-12 teachers. The technology is to be integrated throughout the classroom. Some of the technology that was given is for their personal and professional use was; an iPad, iTunes cards, video camera, and tripod.
Cindy and Linda were given $800 to spend in our classrooms. Cindy chose to buy 22 BuildtoExpress lego kits. BuildToExpress is a method to facilitate and develop the skills needed for constructive, creative,and developmental processes of reflection and communication.
1. Students use LEGO bricks to build models to represent their thoughts and reflections.
2. Students share their stories about their LEGO models and their meanings.
3. The BuildToExpress process follows a structure and certain rules.
4. Process facilitation is used throughout the process - the facilitator is the key to the process and its success.
Cindy used the BuildToExpress method during the Dating Violence unit. Some of the "builds" that students did were "Build a Model Representing a Healthy Relationship" and "Build a Model Representing an Important Scene from the movie "No One Would Tell". Students shared their models and reflections and also did a related writing assignment. Cindy noticed how students liked to think with their "hands" and listen with their "eyes" as classmates shared.
Great Job Cindy!
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