WMSI STEM Mobile Lab wrapped up spin art sessions around Coos County with a strong showing of excitement and innovation from our STEM Explorers! Arriving in Berlin, we were thrilled to see the smiling faces and minds ready to engage. One student said to me, “robots. Did you say we’re building robots?? Hey mom! I need to tell you something! Jeremy said we’re building robots!” She excitedly ran off to tell her mom. This story sums up our spin art well and highlights what we’re trying to do at WMSI: excite people about creative problem solving.
Indeed, each class had a high level of energy and creativity. Berlin students spent a lot of time on the coding part of the lesson, trying out loops, wait functions, and playing around with different motor speeds (below)
Some students tried out using one color and creating zoom patterns.
Other students went for more of the color explosion approach! (below) Several explorers had the idea of putting down two or three markers at once onto the spinner, creating a very symmetrical rainbow pattern!
In Whitefield, we had 3rd and 4th graders who had never coded before and were flabbergasted at the possibilities! (below)
Three Whitefielders stepped spin art up a notch and turned their project into an “art launcher”, sending a piece of paper skittering off the desk. Giggles were had by all.
We wrapped up spin art in Gorham with an excited bunch students and Youth Leaders! Five of Gorham High School’s most innovative inventors showed up to help the STEM Explorers, bringing knowledge, patience, and some well deserved goofiness!
Gorham students were particularly interested in color blending, using similar shades to create vortexes and swirls. Artsy!
One group dove into coding, making a complicated spin pattern using loop, wait, and power functions. Cool!
This group below combined spin art with some astronomy and used the robot to make a model of a solar system!
At the end of each class we all gathered around and talked about our next session. The new challenge? You must build a LEGO creature that moves; however. you . Can’t. Use. Wheels (Gasps!).
“No way”
“How’s that going to work??”
One student, “I think I have an idea. . .”
We’’ll see how they do after Thanksgiving!