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SK/Shop Collaboration is Out of This World
One of the hallmarks of a Parker education is the freedom our teachers have in creating unique educational experiences that combine student passions, interests and energies into something wonderful.
When Senior Kindergarten teacher Dana O’Brien expressed her desire to build a BIG rocket ship in her classroom to Upper School Woodshop teacher Nick Rupard, the two immediately began to engineer a plan to make it a reality.
When Rupard approached senior Andy Wessman, one of his students in Advanced Woodworking class, with the idea of collaborating with O’Brien and her students to help launch the idea as a class project, Wessman eagerly agreed.
Teachers brought students together early in the process to brainstorm about the craft’s general design. With the team’s thoughts and direction in mind, Wessman constructed a reduced-sized model as a prototype for additional feedback and refinement.
After receiving the green light, Team Woodshop worked to determine how to build the full-sized model in sections—so that it could fit through the doors for eventual construction in O’Brien’s classroom . The duo used nearly all the tools the shop had in building the craft’s frame, which SK students then wrapped with cardboard and painted before installing system controls, a custom paper-maché dome and more to ready the craft for its maiden voyage.
Students also traced their bodies in class, made patterns and cut material for spacesuits, paper-machéd helmets and learned about the history of space travel in our country. Not only were they developing their fine and gross motor skills, they were learning about space travel: who has the opportunity to travel and what it means to represent your country in space. The students voted to name their craft the Rainbow Mustache after learning about the meaning of the Pride flag. “Our rocket can show the galaxy that we are proud of who we are and that we love everyone!” said one SK student. Another child said, “Our rocket needs to have pictures of aliens on it. That way, the aliens in outer space can have a mirror and know that we are welcoming of everyone.” One child added the final piece: pictures from the New York Times of all the astronauts of color. “People need to know that people of color and women are not given the same opportunities, but these astronauts didn’t listen to them. They believed they could do it and they did!”
On the day of the “blast-off,” O’Brien’s students donned their spacesuits and stood in proud procession as Upper School vocalists sang the National Anthem. Another Upper School student serenaded the SK students by singing and playing “Space Oddity” on his guitar as they made the memorable walk down the stairs to the classroom. One by one, each student boarded the rocket and posed for a photo as a puff of smoke from a fog machine simulated liftoff—a delight for all who shared in the event!
“My favorite part of the project was seeing the SK students’ faces when they first saw the rocket ship. The pure awe and curiosity they had just brought a sense of joy and nostalgia to me,” shared Wessman.
Reflecting upon the experience, Rupard offered, “Working with both Andy and the SK class took me back to being a kid again and playing with empty refrigerator boxes. It never seemed like a forced task making it. It was just fun to work with both Andy and the SK class on this project.”
With her big rocket dreams now realized, O’Brien said, “This whole process was magical. Collaborating with so many different people who were all willing to enjoy this journey with us was amazing. I think it opened the door to many more questions and possibilities regarding projects that involve different divisions of the school. As for the SK students, it allowed them to wonder in a way that was pure PLAY. I’m not even sure I could mention here all of the types of learning that this project involved. I’m filled with such gratitude that we could do this. My only question is– Where do we go next?”
Enjoy the slide show of the build process compiled by O´Brien below and click here for photos.
Francis W. Parker School educates students to think and act with empathy, courage and clarity as responsible citizens and leaders in a diverse democratic society and global community.