Tag: kids

Things That Go!

If you’ve stepped into the Owlet classroom recently, you may have noticed clouds floating overhead and airplanes soaring through the room. That’s because the Owlets have been immersed in an exciting study of air transportation as part of their “Things That Go!” project work. Through hands-on exploration, creative design, and visits from experts, students have been discovering how humans travel through the sky and how flight shapes the way we see the world.

After studying ground-based transportation, the class began studying air transportation with a paper airplane challenge. Each Owlet designed, decorated, and named their own airplane before testing their flying skills in a game inspired by cornhole. Drawing on previous science lessons with Ms. O, students remembered that the best way to launch a paper airplane is by aiming upward toward the sky rather than downward toward the ground.

Once students mastered the basics of flight, the challenge became even more exciting. Different-sized targets were added for airplanes to fly through, each worth a different number of points. As students practiced launching their planes toward the targets, they strengthened hand-eye coordination, problem-solving, and perseverance. While it was tricky at first, many Owlets improved their accuracy through persistence and teamwork.

The Owlets also explored the history of aviation by learning about famous pilot Amelia Earhart. After reading about her flights across the Atlantic Ocean, students discussed how landscapes appear differently when viewed from above. This sparked a conversation about perspective and how our viewpoint changes what we see. Students reflected on how objects appear from the ground compared to the sky, where everything can seem flat like a map. Inspired by this idea, the Owlets created their own “bird’s-eye view” drawings, imagining the world from a pilot’s perspective.

Throughout the study, the Owlets learned from several special visitors who shared their expertise about transportation and flight. A Hoot Owl friend introduced students to the world’s fastest train in China, which uses powerful magnets and can travel up to 286 miles per hour. Students noticed similarities between the train and BART, especially its pointed nose designed to help it move faster through the air.

The class also connected virtually with Louis, the uncle of an Owlet, who shared his expertise about airplanes. He explained that building airplanes can feel similar to building with Legos and introduced students to the four forces that help planes fly: thrust, lift, drag, and gravity. Students asked thoughtful questions and were amazed to learn that the SR-71 Blackbird can travel up to 2,000 miles per hour, while smaller propeller planes travel much more slowly. They also discovered that airplanes use jet fuel, a stronger type of gasoline.

In addition, two former Owlets (now kindergartners) returned to the classroom to share what they know about airplane travel. They taught students about turbulence, airplane parts, and how pilots communicate with air traffic control during flights. Students also learned that airplanes land on their back wheels first for safety and that the plane’s pointed nose helps it move smoothly through the air.

The Owlets’ exploration of transportation has combined science, creativity, engineering, storytelling, and collaboration in meaningful and joyful ways. Families are invited to learn more about these discoveries and celebrate the students’ work at the Owlets’ Things That Go! culmination on Thursday, May 21, at 8:30 a.m.

#SaklanProjectWork

Head’s Corner: Playgrounds that Inspire

The Evolution of Play Structures – This Year’s Fund-A-Need

As a child, my memory of play structures at school is pretty vivid. We can start with the color—predominantly metal gray. Much of the parts looked like they were taken from the hardware store plumbing aisle. During the winter, they were cold to the touch; in the heat of summer—untouchable. How many of you have a memory—seared into your bottom—of speeding down the shiny metal slide on a hot July day?

Most of all, though, they lacked space for imagination.

Play structures have undergone a significant transformation over the decades, reflecting our evolving understanding of child development. It wasn’t until the past 20 years or so that play structures moved from being prescriptive in how children were meant to use them to designs open to a child’s imagination—a place where children could direct their own experiences.

Well-designed equipment becomes a canvas for inventive play, changing its purpose to match the day’s adventure. These structures support not just physical development but also cognitive growth, social skills, and emotional resilience—all through the power of self-directed play.

This evolution reflects a broader shift in how we view childhood—moving from seeing children as passive recipients of instruction to recognizing them as active constructors of their own understanding. Today’s most innovative play structures (and educational approaches) reflect a deep respect for children’s capabilities.

Sound familiar? It should; students’ “meaning making” of what they learn is a foundational tenet of authentic Project-Based Learning.

This year’s Fund-a-Need is more than just playground equipment—it’s an investment in the kind of education we believe in. Your contribution will directly impact how our students play, learn, and grow every day at Saklan. When we give our children thoughtfully designed spaces to play, we give them the tools to become the innovative thinkers our world needs through the simple but profound act of play.

Join us in bringing this vision to life! Your support for this year’s Fund-a-Need will help create dynamic play spaces that foster creativity, collaboration, and exploration—just as we do in the classroom. Every contribution, big or small, makes a lasting impact on our students’ daily experiences. Let’s build playgrounds that inspire the next generation of innovators and problem-solvers. Donate today and be a part of shaping the future of play at Saklan!