Written by Vanessa Civan,
Lower School Educator, Lower School Round Square Coordinator
There is a special kind of excitement in the air at our school as we watch the New Build take shape and prepare for opening. For our Grade 5 students, this isn’t just a construction project; it’s a living classroom.
As part of our current unit on Forces in Structures, the Grade 5 Teachers recently had the unique opportunity to tour the new gym and pool facilities. Walking through the space alongside the project coordinator, they were able to see firsthand how the concepts they’ve been exploring in class, such as load-bearing structures, stability, and material strength are applied in real-world design and construction.
Throughout the tour, they interviewed the project coordinator to deepen their understanding of:
How is an existing structure connected to a new addition/building?
What materials are used in the foundation, walls, and connecting portions of the building?
What materials are best for strength and durability?
How do structures remain stable over time?
These are the very questions that engineers, designers, and builders consider every day, and now, our students are thinking like them too.
To deepen this learning, the Grade 5’s excitedly welcomed a panel of experts from the Prodigy Construction team: the Project Manager, Project Coordinator, and Senior Superintendent to speak with the Grade 5 students. Students had the opportunity to hear about the design process, the challenges faced during construction, the materials used, and the decision-making behind the structure they have seen come to life from the ground up.
This experience brought learning beyond the classroom walls. It allowed students to connect theory to practice, develop critical thinking skills, and see the relevance of science and engineering in their everyday world. Most importantly, it inspired curiosity.
By engaging with real professionals and exploring a real construction site, our Grade 5 students are not just learning about structures; they are beginning to understand the impact of innovation, design, forces, and impact in shaping the spaces around us.
As our new facilities prepare to open, our students are not only witnessing growth in our school but discovering their own potential to design, build, and create meaningful change.