In the past few weeks, students at Chicago City Day School have built airplanes, brought robots to life, and designed their own toys.
These and other projects took place in tech & design class (or simply "tech," as the class is known). Tech is the class during which City Day students use their hands and minds to imagine, design, create, and build. Based in the school's Shorey Shop, the class serves as a hub of interdisciplinary learning, as students use math, science, reading, and art skills in nearly all projects.
The Shorey Shop is a true "makerspace" in that it provides students with the necessary equipment to bring their creations to life. Students use hammers, screwdrivers, drills, sanders, hot glue guns, electric saws and more in tech class. The use of tools varies by age.
The eclectic mix of projects completed in tech class is unique for an elementary school. For example, City Day's seventh-graders built paper airplanes equipped with propellers and small motors. See one student's successful flight in the video above.
Second-graders constructed "grabber" tools in class. (The best-made grabbers would help the students snatch treats from a bin!) First-graders recently constructed small Scootz robots and are now building heart baskets out of wood. Sixth-graders completed the "twirling toy" challenge, where they tried to design toys that would flutter when dropped and land accurately on a target.
These projects develop fine-motor skills and help students become creative problem-solvers. They also instill the "maker spirit" in students — sparking curiosity about the world and a desire to innovate.
"The students take what they've learned in math class, in science class, in art class...and they apply it here in a very creative, hands-on way," said Fonda "Ms. B" Baldwin, the tech teacher. "They work together, and they feel a real sense of accomplishment when they complete a project."
All it takes is one visit to the Shop to feel the energy and excitement present in students as they imagine and build.
See photos from a variety of recent projects below.
- Interested to hear more about City Day's tech & design program? Attend an admissions event.
