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Wonder Workshop Allows Students and Parents to Question, Learn, and Create Together
On Wednesday and Friday mornings, the Lower School hosted a Wonder Workshop for students and family members to question, learn, and create together.
These workshops brought parents, grandparents and other family members to the Lower School to participate with their St. Andrew’s student in a design thinking activity led by Lower School science teacher Hilarie Hall and an art activity hosted by Lower School art teacher Justin Pyles.
Wednesday’s workshop was for Pre-K through Grade 2 students and their guests while Friday's was for Preschool I and II. In the design activity, they worked together to create chairs – constructed solely from index cards and tape for the older kids, popsicle sticks and tape for the younger kids - that could support a small stuffed animal. In the art activity, participants worked together to paint and decorate Santa’s workshop.
For Jordan Love, Head of Lower School, the workshop gave students an opportunity to experiment and express their creativity.
“What is most impressive is just how self-directed the children were in their work,” Love said. “They were leading the work - the adults may have been reinforcing, but it was the students who were bringing their own meaning to the work and they were interpreting the materials and instructions in the way they felt would result in the best product in the end.”
For Pre-K parent Dalia Blass, the workshop was more than just a glimpse into her son’s classroom experiences. It also reinforced her decision to send two of her children to St. Andrew’s.
“This is the future of education and brain development,” Blass said. “Design, experiment, refine, and create. It teaches children problem solving skills that they will use across all disciplines and in life generally. As a parent looking for the best educational experience for my children, I am delighted to be in a school that goes beyond the traditional rote learning programs to embrace the critical role of design thinking in developing the brain and preparing children for the world they face.”
Hall and Pyles said it was satisfying to see the workshops meet and exceed their expectations; Hall enjoyed seeing her activity become a design-thinking process, while Pyles was glad to see parents and students engaged in a "play-based and choice-based environment."
"The workshops were definitely reflective of what students do on a daily basis," Hall said. "Students know they will have challenges that are relevant and meaningful."
"It's a wonderful experience. It reminds me of my own childhood," said MaryAnn Johnson Tucker, the grandmother of a PSI student.
Johnson Tucker said it is important to her that her granddaughter has memories of doing activities at school with her family.
"Those memories with go with her with St. Andrew's in mind," Johnson Tucker said.
Harisch Sood, parent of a first grader, enjoyed the experience as well, especially in watching his son’s level of engagement.
“It is very important (for us as parents) that Dylan is at a school that actively encourages creativity and collaboration and makes it part of its DNA as St. Andrew’s has,” Sood said. “It was also great as a parent to participate in a design thinking exercise. Dylan was very excited to participate which shows he is very engaged, which is great to see.”
Love said the workshop demonstrated what students have learned about working collaboratively and harmoniously toward accomplishing a specific goal.
St. Andrew’s Episcopal School is a private, coeducational college preparatory day school for students in preschool (Age 2) through grade 12, located in Potomac, Maryland.