I have enjoyed this trimester, with a mixture of new students in 6th grade, and 7th & 8th graders who are veterans of Creator's Studio. The latter have a solid grasp of the tools, materials, and skills necessary for project development and have thus far been tremendously helpful to their younger classmates. Today, I took the 6th graders through tool safety training as the older students worked independently on their projects.
One of the wonderful aspects of this class is the individualization that takes place depending on the area of focus. Some students are designing in Tinkercad, while others are using a jigsaw or bandsaw. Yet others are painting outside, working on 2D graphics, prototyping in cardboard or even experimenting with weaving. I assist where I can, but much of the time is spent in consultation, questioning, or helping a student get unstuck.
A few students have now begun project #2, a personal choice. I see a skateboard ramp taking shape, and a wooden box that has a secret opening. More to come in the next post.