On Wednesday we began our school-wide Artist Residency with Lucie delaBruere.  Our focus will be on coding and circuits.

Students were given energy sticks and had a chance to explore ways to activate them.  After a bit of experimenting they figured out that they needed a circle for the energy to flow.  However, one child asked if a triangle could work as well?  This gave us something to think about.

Next Lucie began introducing different materials as part of the circuit including a flower and a styrofoam block.  Ask your child about some of the materials that worked in keeping the energy flowing.  The last material we tried was wire, which worked sometimes, but not always, depending on the part of the wire being held.

When we returned to class we revisited the question about the triangle and everyone agreed a triangle would work.   We looked at various line pictures on the board and thought about whether or not they would work.  After a bit of pondering and further discussion one student said the shape didn't matter, but it needed to be "full" for the energy to flow.  Another called this connected and a third said the shape needed to be closed.  Some really good science thinking.  We will continue our work with Lucie for the next few days.