Students Played, Made and Engineered at Community Maker Night
Children of all ages had fun "creating" at last week's Community Maker Night held at Immanuel Lutheran School in Palatine. Though varied, Community Maker Night activities all followed the "Play, Make, Learn!" theme and were STEAM-based. STEAM is an acronym for "Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math."
"It was so much fun. Seeing the kids making, building, creating, and engineering was phenomenal. It really shows their future potential. The kids were so excited. So many of them ran up to me and said, 'Mrs. Schiestel, Mrs. Schiestel - look what I made!' It was also very gratifying meeting families from around the community and watching parents and children interact," said Principal Delaine Schiestel.
Immanuel's new broadcast studio was one of the featured activities. Participants became part of a simulated live news broadcast.This very unique experience demonstrated and featured many of the studio's advanced capabilities including: Chroma-Key, multiple camera switching, professional lighting and virtual sets. Immanuel middle school students will have the opportunity to take classes featuring the broadcast studio starting this fall.
Austin Newbury, from Power Construction Company, demonstrated SketchUp, a 3D computer modeling program. Students had the opportunity to use SketchUp themselves and discuss engineering with Newbury, giving them a glimpse into some exciting possibilities.
Newbury was not Maker Night's only special guest and expert. Amy Bandman, Harper College's sustainability coordinator, and Amie Granger Harper College's community relationship manager, facilitated an interactive session on sustainability. Several "green" themes were explored: energy efficiency, water and wildlife conservation, green design, food, healthy lifestyles and cost savings.
At Maker Night, students had a plethora of other activities from which to choose as well: color-changing slime, cup pyramids and races in the gym, balloon cars, art, catapults, Lego, KNEX and Castle projects, math pattern blocks, a recycled carnival, building circuits, and a water table.
What is the "Maker Movement?"
The Maker Movement encourages people of all ages to explore fixing, improving, and creating. Through the maker process, learning is promoted through play and experimentation. Students are encouraged to think outside the box as they design, build, and invent. Some activities are guided -with a stated goal to achieve - while others permit students to explore freely. Through this process, children and adults learn to take risks, to celebrate 'failures' as opportunities, and to develop a growth mindset that motivates a joy of learning and exploring. Creativity, communication, persistence, and teamwork are all by-products of a Maker Mindset.
If you have any questions about Immanuel Lutheran School, please contact Linda Stammer, Admissions Director, at 847-359-1936. Immanuel Lutheran Church & School is located at 200 North Plum Grove Road (at Wood Street) in downtown Palatine, just two blocks east of the Palatine Metra Train Station.
About Immanuel Lutheran School
Immanuel Lutheran School spiritually and academically nurtures students (preschool - eighth grade) and provides a solid foundation of knowledge, skills, values and critical thinking which enables students to meet the challenges of today and tomorrow. Immanuel teachers recognize that they teach children, not subjects. The school is a two-time winner of the Presidential Excellence in Education Award.