Friday Lego Lab Parent Letter 21 October 2011

Nelson Mandela School-Primary

Friday Lego Lab AG

Parent Letter—21 October 2011

Dear Parents of Friday Lego Lab Participants,

We hope that your child has enjoyed his time in Friday Lego Lab so far this year.  We have had a great deal of fun with free building and plan next to participate in some team projects involving  the use of wheels and axles. 

This year, the Friday Lego Lab is a year round AG that will incorporate much of what we learned last year with a total free building environment combined with a team approach to various topics such as wheels and axles. 

Even though the Lego Lab seems like it is just play, what we hope that students come away with is how to work together to create something and it is important that as much as possible your child participates in the entire time of the Lab each week.  This allows for better teamwork and discipline of the student. 

Also, with the growth of the Lego Lab and the students who are growing along with it, we are in need of more sophisticated Lego materials which are difficult to obtain by donation.  We are asking each student in the Friday Lego Lab to contribute € 40,- towards this cause so that we can purchase some much needed technical Legos for the Klub.  Also, we will continue to accept any new or used Lego donations. 

You may pay cash to Lego Lab Coordinator Shelia Joneleit who will give you a receipt or you may send an Überweisung to the Friends of Nelson Mandela School.  Berliner Volksbank, BLZ 100 900 00, Konto 102 02 32 001, Kunden-Referenznummer:  Lego Lab AG + student’s name.  Cash donations beyond the materials fee are welcome anytime!

First Lego League Robotic Team

We are coming closer to the goal of putting together a First Lego League Robotics Team.  5th & 6th grade science teacher Tom Slodre has started a semester WUV course on Robotics and through interest in that course and older students who might have an interest, we are hoping to start a team in the Spring.  In order to do that however, we need a dedicated coach or two to start the program and to coach on a weekly basis.  If you are interested in coaching, please contact the Lego Lab at legolab@nelson-mandela-school.net. For more information on the Robotic Competition in Germany visit this website:

http://www.hands-on-technology.de/firstlegoleague.

NMS Lego Lab has a blog

Check it out at http://www.nmslegolab.blogspot.com/

Keep on Building!!!!                        

Dear Lego Lab Supporters,

Summertime and the livin' is easy!  This is also a time to do some planning for next year's Lego Lab.

The volunteers, educators and I learned a great deal with our first year of the Lego Lab Project at Nelson Mandela School in Berlin, Germany.  Because of what we discovered, we will be focusing the Labs a little bit differently for next school year.  But first a couple of observations that surprised me in the year.

1)  I had no idea that Lego min-figs would be so important to the students.  Many times, they based their whole idea of what they wanted to build around a min-fig.  I'm old.  When I was a kid we didn't have figures--just basic elements and we used our fingers as people.

2)  Some students just don't want to ever break down their creations.  That's a tough one...what do you do when you have a 6 year old who doesn't want to give up a piece he worked on for a couple of weeks even though it is the end of the school year and everyone else has already busted their stuff.   He was the saddest child I've seen in a long time.

Plans for next year.

We will again hold three different labs but they will be a bit different in approach than this past year.

For the Flex (1st & 2nd grade) and the 3rd/4th grade labs, we will alternate every 8 weeks between Girls and Boys Labs so that girls have the opportunity to experiment with technology with like-minded girls is a safe setting.  The minimum students will be 6 and the maximum will be 12.  We will be introducing the students to all the pieces--basically encouraging students to use the right name but the 6 to 8 week workshops will primarily be a free build.

Last year, the Friday Lego Lab was previously open to all Flex 1-6th graders and was a complete a free build.  This year, I will limit the lab to Flex 2-4th grade and only accept 15 students total for the entire year.  In this year's lab, we will explore together the use of tires, hinges/panels/hitches and wings so that students can have a better grasp of these ideas.  Also, students will work more closely together in teams of three. At the end of the school year, we will have an exhibition of the Lab.  There will still be time for a great deal of free build with the other time to actually do themed exploration.

This will all be in preparation for 5th and 6th grade.  The science teacher has purchased Lego education sets and is planning on using the Robotics sets within the science courses that he teaches.  We hope to eventually begin a Lego Robotics Team beginning with the 5th grade and with that team possibly even reaching into the Secondary School.  But the Robotics Team process has to grow organically and I think it's important to start exploring team work in the lower grades to perhaps move towards this concept.  

I want to thank all the wonderful parents who volunteered this past year:  Noel Bush, Eden Kottke, Gabriela Pardo, Britte Klucke, Matthias Pinzel, Christian Niemitz-Rossant, Christine Ast and Sarah Dent.  Also, I want to thank the great Educators who helped out this year:  Frau Samios, Frau Brooks, Frau Freckmann and Frau Ashley.

Exciting times ahead for the Lego Lab and we hope that can join us on this adventure!
Keep on building
Shelia Joneleit
Lego Lab Coordinator

2011 Spring Lego Lab Update

Dear Parents and Supporters,

2nd Semester Lego Lab is Going Full Speed Ahead!

We have added another Lab to the Schedule and that is for the 3rd/4th Grade Students on Thursdays from 14:40 to 15:55.  This will be a short 8 week lab only and will alternate between all girl and all boy labs.  Parent Volunteer Noel Bush is spearheading this effort and we appreciate all of his great help!  Currently, there are five girls who are having a great deal of fun exploring the different elements on their own time and and in their own way.

Currently, the Monday Flex Lab averages between 20 to 22 boys which is now at maximum for the room.  We are in need of another adult volunteer for this time and if you can make the commitment on a weekly basis, please contact legolab@nelson-mandela-school.net.  Next year, the Flex Lego Lab will also work along the lines as the 3/4 lab:  alternating all girl and all boy labs for 8 week periods.  This will give girls an opportunity to explore technology and boys to explore many other internal workshops that the school currently provides.

The Friday Lego Lab now averages 13 members.  To help facilitate other outside Friday interests and longer playdates, the lab time changed this semester to run from 13:30 to 15:00.  Currently the students in the Friday Lego Lab have been working on a large castle project plus many other fun creative projects.  This Lego Lab is open to all Primary Students from Flex through 6th Grade.

For parents who have children in the Monday or Friday Lego Lab, please don't forget to send in the 20 Euros Material fee.  You child may bring cash to the Lab and your account will be credited or you may send an Überweizung for the 20 Euro materials fee and any additional donations to:

Förderverien der Nelson-Mandela-Schule

Berliner Volksbank

BLZ 100 900 00

Konto 102 02 32 001

We accept material and cash donations!

The Lego Lab will accept any and all donations of both new and gently used Lego elements (basic and technic), old Lego Kits (which will be integrated into existing inventory), directions from various Lego Projects and books about Lego.  Money donations for purchase of new and used materials are always welcome.  

We hope you have a great Spring!

Keep on Building!!!