General Info

List of 5 items.

• First Grade- Ordinal Numbers, Counting and Comparing in the Learning Lab

  First grade students took their classroom math lesson into the Learning Lab to practice first, second and third sequences. Their previous experience with the Blockly app, a visual programming tool, allowed them to guide Dash robots to perform certain actions in order and, later, answer questions by driving their robot to the correct numbers posted throughout the room.

• Second Grade- Addition, Subtraction, Measurement and Robots 

  Integrating math, technology, engineering and coding, second graders left their desks for a unique lesson in addition, subtraction and measurement in the Learning Lab. First, students coded our Dash robots to move assigned lengths and measured the distance. To alter their robot’s course, they added to or subtracted from this measurement and coded their robot accordingly. Next, the class used tape to create a large square and rectangle on the floor and measured the length of each side. The students coded their robots to travel around the shape’s perimeter and were excited to hear that there was one more activity! Their teachers asked them to build a tunnel-like structure out of chairs and wiggle through to measure the distance. Afterward, the class coded Dash to navigate through the path. They left with a deeper understanding of mathematical concepts and its real-world applications. They also wanted to return to the Learning Lab soon which is a real win for everyone! 

• Third Grade- Parashat HaShavua (Weekly Torah portion) in 3D

  Our iTaLAM curriculum presents the parasha (Torah portion) with a visual symbol that illustrates a key lesson. By integrating Jewish Studies, art, and engineering, third graders brought each parasha to life while improving upon their technological and artistic skills. Each week the students drew their own version of the respective symbol in a 3D design app. These designs were printed on our 3D printers and attached to a keychain as a visual reminder. This multidisciplinary approach reinforced their Torah studies, supported a variety of learning styles and boosted self-confidence in their final key chain presentation.
  
  

  Partnering Tu B’Shevat with a unit about the rainforest creates a meaningful connection between the holiday and deforestation. Science, language arts, Jewish Studies, Maker Lab and visual art seamlessly weave the topics together while students learn about the plant cycle, conduct research, create an expository book about their topic,  engineer a robotic rainstick, learn about toucans, and create a painting of  a toucan in the rainforest.

  
  

  In science, students learned  that plants use energy from the sun, air, and water to make their own food. Students raised questions about the natural world, investigated and generated appropriate explanations based on those explorations. 

  
  

  In math, students used bar graphs and line graphs to show data about the rainforest. Word problems were created for peers to solve using the data.  

  
  

  In art, students learned about the rainforest and deforestation. Then they discussed “How can art send a message?” Social media and posters are ways to inform the public on matters such as endangered animals, deforestation and environmental awareness. Students turned their rainforest animal paintings into posters that were displayed around our school’s hallways. 

  
  

  In Jewish Studies, Hebrew vocabulary was introduced as students learned about the life cycles in nature and their connection to the creator.  

  
  

  In language arts, students engaged in the research process which included retrieving information using a variety of tools, reading for information, note-taking and finally  summarizing the information. The writing process consisted of drafting and revising. 

• Fourth Grade- Engineering a Dreidel

  At Martin J. Gottlieb Day School, Hanukkah is associated with latkes, sufganiot (doughnuts) and…our Learning Lab! Integrating Jewish Studies, engineering, design and science, fourth grade was tasked with creating their own dreidel design. Given a wide range of materials, students designed, built, and tested their dreidels. Using concepts from their classroom such as kinetic energy and their understanding of motion, they developed hypotheses regarding how the speed and direction of their dreidel may change when its compass points are altered.  Students experimented and observed the changes. The fourth graders had a lot of holiday fun...even without gelt!

• Fifth Grade- Expanding Our Perspective 

  Integrating language arts, science, engineering and design, fifth grade students gained a deeper understanding of the global water crisis and how to find an entry point for tikkun olam (repair the world) even when events seemed impenetrable. By reading A Long Walk to the Water by Linda Sue Park, access to clean water became personal through Nya and Salva, the two Sudanese eleven-year-old main characters, as students connected with their youth and cared deeply about their struggles. Teachers encouraged the class to turn their feelings into actions. The fifth graders were guided in categorizing Nya and Salva’s challenges, choosing an area to study further and an approach to apply in the future, as well. The class chose a technical approach and used commonly available materials to design and engineer a water filtration system. After successfully testing their devices using pH strips, they discussed the real-world implications of their efforts and celebrated how compassion can be channeled to create real change.