Pre-K: A Flurry of Innovation
Pre-K students kicked off their first Tinker Time challenge of the year with a snowy design adventure inspired by "Red Sled" by Lita Judge, a story in which a child’s red sled becomes an unexpected source of nighttime fun for a group of forest animals. After reading the story in the Gates Invention and Innovation Lab with Lower School Innovation Specialist Mrs. Elizabeth Leddy, students were challenged to design a sled for one of the animal characters.
Drawing on several of Graland’s Attributes of a Graduate, including creativity, empathy, curiosity, and adaptability, students explored the materials station and selected from popsicle sticks, tape, cotton balls, and other crafting supplies to bring their ideas to life.
Once their sleds were built, students tested them on a prototype snowy hill inside the lab to see how well they glided. After observing how their designs performed, many students made small adjustments, showing persistence and curiosity as they worked to improve their sleds.
The challenge offered Pre-K students a joyful introduction to innovation at Graland, inviting them to imagine, build, test, and learn through hands-on exploration.