The recently-held 5th Grade Math Games and 6th Grade Experimental Design events both vividly demonstrated how students often are best educated by presenting the concepts they have learned themselves, in an applied, hands-on manner.  Judging from the laughter and proud smiles that filled Hajjar Auditorium during these events, the students also clearly also enjoyed experiencing these challenging but fun learning opportunities (see photo gallery at left).

The Lower School's 5th Grade Math Games presented attendees with a lively mix of strategic, risk- and chance-oriented games with catchy names including "Basketball Mania";  "Money Matters"; "Laugh & Graph"; "Capture the Cube"; "R U Smarter Than A Mathematician?"; and "PDF" (aka Percentages/Decimals/Fractions).  

Jennifer Hogan, 5th Grade Teacher and the faculty advisor who created the program, explained: "Our students had to design an entire math game on their own, starting with a basic concept to materials production and execution.  They were teamed up and all they received were paper supplies and the direction to design a game that would effectively demonstrate various math concepts they learned this year.  This event is a great culmination of all the math skills that they know, and it also encourages them to think about how they can present what they did, in an effective and articulate way." 

Participants included visiting students from all three divisions, parents, and D-E faculty and staff.  All were invited to score the games on several criteria including creativity, (quality of) directions, and math content.  The game creators clearly enjoyed the chance to show off their work.  In the words of one 5th Grader:  "We had the most fun making our game, and then watching people play it, both winners and losers!"  

Later that same day and in the same space, 6th grade students took the basic idea of'buyer beware' to a new level.  Testing selected items and services and reporting on the results in a small-scale (but definitely real-life) consumer fair, the students used the forum to re-evalute and report on everyday products including bed pillows, paper towels, orange juice,and nail polish. 

Matt Larrowe, 6h grade Science teacher and the lead faculty advisor for the program, noted that the students had been working on their projects since late April.  He explained:  "The teams were assigned and then they decided what consumer item to test.  This program brings together key concepts of Science plus our students also gain new appreciation and applications for history...math... even English."