No Images? Click here Where Curiosity Leads, We Shall FollowFrom boats to bugs to chiseling wood, many curiosity-driven pursuits are underway this fall as learners in Breakwater's many programs are taking full advantage of the JWK Curiosity Lab and its growing collection of resources. What a joy it has been to watch the learning adventures unfold so far. With the spirit of the season upon us, we are feeling especially grateful for the amazing space that you, our generous community, helped us to build. Thank you, we couldn’t have done it without you! Read on for an inside look at what’s been happening in the Lab, all thanks to your continued support…Wonder. Sometimes it starts in the imagination, sparked by a question, a dream, a story, or something seen that caught the eye and captured the mind. Time slows down for a few moments as thoughts rev up and take off, headed in the direction of discovery. It could be the introduction of a new toy (or an old favorite re-positioned) amidst the familiar landscape, or the abundance of a resource gifted by our generous community, or mother nature after a storm, that the questions bubble up to the surface. "What can we do with all this wood? What else could this tree become? What tools and skills might we need to learn to answer our questions?" And another adventure begins. Explore. Sometimes curiosity is provoked by a carefully crafted invitation to explore something new. New materials, new tools, new skills, new ideas - a new perspective begins taking shape and the journey of learning continues on its way. "How can you make static electricity? Which materials are most effective at generating static electricity? What impacts the strength of static electricity produced by these different materials?" The interpretations are many, as are the methods for exploration, each as unique as the explores themselves, each of them valued just as much. Through explorations of the questions we pose, both students and teachers learn something new as each answer leads to yet another question, another idea, another perspective, another adventure in the unending the quest for knowledge. Tinker. With questions in mind and adventures afoot, experiments beget experiments, skills are tested and developed and knowledge evolves with each iteration. Trial and error, a repeated refrain, leads to new questions, new ideas, new interests, new experiments, and a newfound self-confidence. "How does this thing work? What else can you make it do? What else could you use to achieve a similar result? What could you do differently to improve this design?" Playful engagement with a diversity of modern and classic tools, materials, and approaches to problem-solving offer first-hand experiences that can bring STEM concepts and skills to life, engaging many learners in a way that even the best books and lectures struggle to do. Create. The development of new skills, knowledge, interests, and perspective that are born from those initial sparks of curiosity, inevitably lead to the creation of something new, be it a pattern of light reflected off spinning mirrors, a hand-carved fork, a butterfly costume for enhanced life-cycle storytelling, or a new toy to help the preschoolers explore their growing love of ladybugs. Though learning is an ever-evolving process, sometimes a self-made (or collaborative) product results from the efforts put forth by those involved. "What do you want to make now that you've learned how to use these tools? What tools and materials do you need to bring your idea to fruition? How might you showcase what you have learned so far?" It is this part of the process, before it all begins again in the ongoing cycle of learning, that invites one to synthesize what has been learned and transform that knowledge into a tangible creation of immeasurable value, that reflects all the uniqueness of its maker. As each creation leads to new questions, new adventures and discoveries, another chapter begins to unfold. Check Out Our New Lending Library! Pictured below, the large shelving unit to the left of the Lab's main entrance is now filled with books, games, and other Curiosity Lab resources from our growing collections. This is our brand new Lending Library, and it is here for you! Teachers and families can now borrow materials from the JWK Curiosity Lab to support explorations outside of scheduled class time in the Lab. Next time you are on campus, browse the shelves and check out what's new as we work to regularly add items. Materials can be signed out using a temporary clipboard system (on the shelf itself) until our digital card-catalog gets rebooted, following the completion of Breakwater's up-leveling of the library. You Can Help Us Grow Our Collections! This holiday season, we hope you consider a charitable donation to help us grow our collection of technology, toys, tools, books, and other resources to better support the growing curiosities of our students, teachers, and families both in the Lab and through our new Lending Library. Maybe you are feeling inspired to learn a new skill or revisit a long-ago learned craft, and would rather make something, like the ladybug memory game pictured below, to help build our collections... well, you are in luck! Stayed tuned for next month's newsletter to learn more about upcoming opportunities for parent and teacher makers to get in the Lab! Every Little Bit Helps On a recent Friday during Open Lab time, a middle school student at work at the lathe paused momentarily as his friend successfully laser-projected Lissajous curves onto the wall. He said, "I love the Curiosity Lab; I am so glad it's here." The moment past, he pulled his mask back down, and returned to the task of sanding and shaping the revolving wood. We love the Lab too, and are so grateful for the many opportunities this space already provides the Breakwater community to wonder, explore, tinker, and create. This is just the beginning, and the more funds we raise, the more learners we can reach and the more curiosities like these we can help take to the next level. Thank you, again, for your continued support as we work to optimize our flagship Curiosity Lab, add new programs for youth and adult learners, and explore the many exciting possibilities of a Mobile Curiosity Lab. The JWK Curiosity Lab |