LEARNING
STEAM in a teacup
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n this project, the girls were tasked with making a pin cushion to hold a set of sewing pins. They were required to research the history of the mandala and use the simple mindfulness tool of colouring in as a starting point to develop their felt mandala pin cushion design, using personal and cultural symbols to create their own unique mandala pattern. The specifications given for the task were that they could only use the materials supplied in the mandala pin cushion kit, the mandala had to fit into a teacup or small tin, it had to be able to hold pins and the construction had to be to a high standard to withstand the test of time. Ms Wells comments: “We used Microsoft Teams and Schoolbox (DioConnect) at Diocesan School for Girls and luckily for us the girls all had digital devices and had access to the internet, so we were able to post the lesson plans up on Microsoft Teams class pages and on our Schoolbox class pages. “During lockdown we held our usual 50-minute lessons to a regular timetable so we did ‘show and tells’ for our Year 9 students to check on progress and the students were able to share their mandala development drawings and concepts on screen with the class and explain their design outcome. This was good as it meant students were able to
Congratulations to Susan Wells, TIC material design technology, for taking first place in the TENZ Teacher Lockdown Competition for her Years 9 & 10 mandala pin cushion and Sashiko kits. Teachers were asked to submit a digital resource, lesson or activity that they could teach online in any of the technology areas or STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics). interact face to face with each other like in a normal classroom. “Students were able to assemble their mandala pin cushion when we returned to school, so this was fun as we all got to see them come together as a class. “Feedback from the students was fantastic – they all said they enjoyed the project as it didn’t take too long to complete each step and they were happy to research and draw at home. They loved the Mindfulness colouring in as this helped them relax. They also said the best part was when they started stitching as it meant they could have a few lessons offline – giving them a much-needed break from digital devices.
congeniality, sharing ideas and helping each other with any problems. Even Ollie, the resident school cat, comes along. He chose not to bring a project, but to provide the homely ambiance of contented purring from the depths of the scrap fabric pile as the humans industriously work away. Beautiful work Susan!
“We as teachers also enjoyed just catching up with them one-on-one on the Microsoft Teams chat to answer any questions or we could video chat to discuss any stitching issues.” Ms Wells presented her lockdown kits to other teachers from around New Zealand at the HETTANZ (Home Economics & Technology Teachers Association New Zealand) Conference in Taupo on 29 May. This year she has initiated an afterschool sewing group that meets on a Tuesday afternoon, bringing along sewing projects and spending the afternoon in an atmosphere of
Where’s (W)Ollie?
DIO TODAY
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