Grade 4 students participated in a day-long robotics workshop where they learned to design, program and use the machines in the school’s new Maker Space to create lamps on May 5. 

The activity was led by the High School robotics team, the Lightning Blue Lizards, who aided the younger ones in the task of creating alternative lamps to decorate their classrooms. 

“The kids had lots of fun creating those lamps as they used tech they had never seen before and learned lots of new stuff, ” Salvador Creus, Grade 10, said. 

Both the Grade 4 students and LBL members worked together to build innovative lamps to decorate their classrooms. These lamps were designed and built entirely by Grade 4 students based on what they liked and how they could fit their classrooms.

“Our lamp came in the shape of 4F which is our classrooms. We included some LEDs with our favorite colors and with some patterns we liked too,” Martin Trujillo, Grade 4, said.

Lamps were attached to classroom doors, sinks, posters, and desks. The activity allowed students to put into practice their skills and see for themselves the results in the classrooms.

“It was very fun accompanying the 4th graders to put their lamps next to their door. They were so excited. They will see their results every day as they leave their classroom because the lamp is placed right in front,” Creus said.

For the students it was a new experience as technology workshops had never been implemented with them. This is part of a new initiative to gain enthusiasm for robotics in Elementary school. 

“My experience was excellent because I could really understand what we were doing, I had never done something like this,” Trujillo said.

Students used a variety of technological materials and tools such as LEDs, Arduinos, LED tape, block coding, drills, screws, among others. These tools are commonly used by the robotics team, not by the classes in the curriculum established in the school.

“I was responsible for the programming of the Arduinos, where I learned how to make some LED lights turn on and off,” Martín Ramírez, Grade 4, said.

These workshops started as a Lightning Blue Lizard initiative to promote this technological thinking through the school and to bring younger minds into the team. 

“A midterm effect will be that we will see more projects being developed here in the Maker Space. In the long term, we’ll see more successful projects led by students as well.” Hector Londoño, High School Technology Coordinator, said. 

The school incorporates STEM curriculum where students think outside the box and build sustainable solutions. This workshop allowed both High School and Elementary Students to expand this knowledge and put it into practice.

“This is a great initiative for students at a young age to start learning about the design, building and scientific process, besides other leadership skills such as planning and communicating appropriately,” Creus said.