Creative Challenge Crew Embraces the Maker Spirit

1/8/2024

How can you transport a drink of water from the fountain to someone in another room? How can you create a shelter with only duct tape and cardboard? These are the challenges Ms. Pilar Okeson, Lower School Librarian, presented to her lively group of 4th and 5th graders in Creative Challenges class this fall. Through each activity the class learned to work together, creating solutions to problems using a limited set of materials and unlimited imagination. Part of our Renaissance curriculum for 4th and 5th graders, Creative Challenges gave our students the chance to plan, build, improve upon and share their creations — embracing choice, imagination and the maker spirit.

Process Not Product

Creative challenges is a process driven class. It’s about making discoveries and learning to work together as a group rather than working toward the “right” answer or product. Because the challenges were open-ended, our students steered the outcomes of their projects with often unexpected results. By far, the class favorite activity was the shelter challenge, aptly named “Cardboard City” by the kids.

Ms. Okeson reflected on how “Cardboard City” evolved:

“The challenge was to make a shelter using duct tape and cardboard. That was it. It evolved into something much more because they were inspired to do more. And this class gave them the space to do that. They created a community comprised of different types of shelters; some communal, some individual. They were constantly adjusting and improving their designs, working together and individually.”

Jack Kerridge '24, Ben Veiel '24, Ian Dabrowka '24, Jagan Som '24,
Gavin Petrinko '24, Alex Mussog '24

Other challenges in the class included:

Build the tallest tower using 25 marshmallows and 75 toothpicks in 45 minutes
Transport water from the fountain to another room using only straws
Build a hoop glider that flies the farthest and fastest
Design and build something using 30 feet of aluminum foil

Mitchell Seaton '24

Sam de los Reyes '23, Will Friedell '24

The Big Reveal

At the end of the semester, our Creative Challenges students displayed their work during Evening of the Arts. They were excited to show off their finished projects, but even more so to explain the process of getting to that finish point. Their faces lit up as they explained how they accomplished each challenge. Making their way through Creative Challenges gave our students a sense of self-confidence, a sense of community and the understanding that a problem is only a problem until you build your way out of it.

Ben Veiel '23, Lizzie Veiel '26, Mr. Eric Veiel, Mrs. Lori Veiel

Our Renaissance program is offered to Fourth and Fifth Grade students as an extension of the Arts and Science programs, with selection based on student choice. Science programming includes the full STEM offerings including Robotics, Rockets, Bridges, Renewable Energy K’Nex building, Design Squad engineering challenges and more. The Arts programs include Advanced Art, Photography, and Drama. Click here to learn more about special subjects in our Lower School.

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