3rd-5th grade EXPLORE students recently completed a STEM unit on earthquake engineering, where they had to work in teams to engineer a building that would withstand a 7.0 magnitude earthquake like the one that devastated Haiti.  After building a shake table for testing, students had to create a building unit and then test different ways of securing it to the shake table using limited materials.  Improvements had to continuously be made to ensure the building did not fall over, slide off, or shear at the top.

As a kick-off to our Africa unit, EXPLORE students had a special opportunity to learn African drumming from Portland-based musician, Annagret Baier, through a drumming workshop on March 29.  Students learned about different percussion instruments that are made and played in Africa, tried their hand at drumming, and then enjoyed a drumming performance from Annagret at Friday Assembly.  View photos below and watch the drumming workshops here!

Students had the opportunity to select a topic of their choice related to Asia to research, and then they chose a method of presenting the information they found to the class.  Topics included tsunamis and earthquakes, technology, the Great Wall of China, Mt. Everest, tropical plants, pandas, Japan, and more!  After presenting their projects, students celebrated the end of our Asia unit by sampling a Japanese candy of their choice.

On December 18, 2018, EXPLORE students hosted a European Holiday Market for the school, where they showcased a holiday tradition that a European country celebrates.  Students first had to research the holiday traditions of a European country of their choice, and then choose what they wanted to present at the Market.  Students decorated trees, made traditional food, dressed as their country's Santa, led festive games, sold handmade ornaments, and more!  Check out the pictures below from the European Holiday Market and view more here.