By David Dunbar, Bellingham Bulletin
Ever been in a room full of 150 sixth graders who are excited to show off the Therapeutic Toys they conceived and constructed?
“Organized chaos” is the way Todd Monroe describes it. He’s a STEAM teacher at Bellingham Memorial School (BMS), and organizer of a well-attended showcase last month.
“Students have seven class periods to sketch, design, build, modify and present their creations,” explains Monroe. STEAM is an acronym for Science Technology Engineering Arts Mathematics.
And what, exactly, is a “Therapeutic Toy?” Some examples include Magna-tiles, Shape Sorters, rolling dice with a cup, and Play-Doh to name a few. Each works on three primary skills: pincer grasp, hand-eye coordination, and wrist extension. And they are created by teams of up to four students each. This is all part of a nationwide curriculum program; Project Lead the Way (PLTW).
“There was a lot of nervous energy in the room,” continues Monroe. BMS Principal Josh Hanna adds, “This is how we make the technology program come to life. They can say to themselves, ‘I did this, and it works!’ This is how we build next-generation creators.”
Giselle White, Violet Trudeau, and Breagha Briggeman are “next generation creators”. The three 11-year-olds created a computer complete with a box for the hard drive, a keyboard and mousepad (pictured). Violet came up with the idea, Breagha noted, “We had to try our best,” and Giselle concluded, “We succeeded!”
Attending the showcase were parents, teachers, and others. About half the sixth grade had their creations on display; the other half will showcase their work in late May. Three teams will go on to represent BMS at the state-wide PLTW Showcase in Boston next year at The Track at New Balance Center. Monroe says, “We have been sending students for four consecutive years, and this year marks the fifth such journey.”
Folks who attended in the BMS cafeteria were asked to evaluate and vote on the Therapeutic Toys on display. More than 30 ballots were submitted with comments including, “Never seen something like this before,” “Amazing,” “Creative,” and “Passionate.”
Helping to make all this possible was a five-figure grant from the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center. A grant summary from the Center’s Ryan Mudawar noted, “Funding went toward updating outdated lab equipment, replacing broken items, introducing students to modern lab techniques… and providing students with essential real-world life science experiences and technical skills to prepare them for post-graduation.”
Grant money also went toward 3D printers, classroom furniture, and industry connections where students receive feedback on their projects from industry professionals.
New research shows that potential employers are looking for critical thinking, communication, collaboration and creativity in their prospective hires. These sixth graders may have some potential.
