The Ascendly Engineering Wooden Structures and Contraptions (WoodS-CE – pronounced Woodsy) course for Kindergartners – 3rd graders embraces the belief that if given fun and engaging projects, even the youngest students learn to think like an engineer. Your child begins this engineering journey by exploring engineering principles and problem solving through open-ended plank-based creations. Pine planks share many of the same qualities as building with LEGO bricks, including open-ended creativity and a deserved sense of accomplishment. Building everything from tall structures to elaborate ball-routing contraptions, this class is perfect for most every kid – raising everyone to their next level.
What to expect
Your child begins this engineering journey by exploring engineering principles and problem solving through open-ended plank-based creations. Pine planks share many of the same qualities as building with LEGO bricks, including open-ended creativity and a deserved sense of accomplishment. Building everything from tall structures to elaborate ball-routing contraptions, this class is perfect for most every kid – raising everyone to their next level. • Kids will combine learning building techniques, exploring simple contraptions, and pushing against daily engineering challenges • Real structural engineering building techniques • Real engineering design process instruction • Real engineering challenges
Sample Project
The students have the engineering design process driven home by experiencing visceral and laugh-out-loud consequences. For example, one step of the design process is to ask questions to better understand the problem and to articulate use cases. Initially, the kids tend not to ask very many questions, but an early project, involving bridges, has them experience those logical ramifications. When they fail to determine the geographic location of the final structure, they are surprised to learn the building is meant for California. Their curiosity increases when they hear about the earthquakes that Californians have to live through. The students find it hilarious when the teacher begins to shake tables, toppling the less-sturdy creations. By the last class, all the kids eagerly explore the problem-space before they start building, just like a good engineer.
