Kimberly Tsai Cawkwell
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Project Gallery
Click on the images to learn more about our projects!
What's the Magic of Boats?
Worth the Risk?
During the course of this 12-week project, students explored the question, “What is the magic of boats?” They learned about the allure of boats by embarking on several boating excursions in kayaks, row boats, and outrigger canoes. They investigated the impact that boats have had on our history while visiting the replica of the San Salvador, and the Cabrillo National Monument. They also delved into the physical magic of how boats float, using their knowledge to construct a boat using cardboard and tape that would float their entire group of three to four students.
The Power of Stars
Within this project, students learned about the decision-making process one uses when making a difficult decision where risk is involved. Students learned to consider circumstance, values, goals, and probability of outcomes.
Throughout this project, students read stories of risk-taking, immigration and adventure.
Finally, students combined what they learn from their personal family history, from historical and current stories of risk-taking, probability, and the decision making process, to write and narrate interactive adventure stories to teach others about risk-taking.
Pay it Forward
This project was planned for 8 weeks with the expected outcomes of learning about constellations, astronomy, telescopes, and various civilizations. Students needed to collaborate together to create two different products: 1) Galilean & Keplerian Telescopes and 2) A digital magazine.
In this project, the 2nd graders investigated the question, “How do Members of Our Community Show Care and Perseverance?” Throughout this project, students engaged in fieldwork to show care and perseverance within their community.
First students brainstormed people who showed their Habits of Heart and Mind: care and perseverance. Next, they asked various members to visit us to teach them about these traits and how they show this in their personal life and in their job. During the process of speaking with experts, students generated interview questions, took notes, and debriefed about what they learned. Afterwards, the students selected one member in their community who inspired them and taught them about our Habits of Heart and Mind. Those members were highlighted in creative biographies and in Norman Rockwell style artwork, which students engaged in multiple drafts to accomplish. These pieces of work were exhibited at a local non-profit art center in San Marcos called Charity Wings.
Students explored the essential question, “How Can Innovative Ideas Make a Difference?” Based on Google's concept of Genius Hour and the Stanford Design School, our classroom was transformed to a place where students could dream big. Students interviewed five different organizations in our community: 1)Pacific Preschool, 2) San Marcos City Hall, 3) Vallecitos Water District, 4) San Marcos Police Station, and 5)Escondido Humane Society. From these interviews, students discovered dilemmas that the organizations were having. They were tasked by the organization to create a prototype or a product that could help provide a resolution. Using a delegated budget, students worked in groups to build a business plan around this innovation. They designed websites, mission statements, logos, business cards and more for their businesses. Throughout the project, students collaborated with their organization via email to receive critique and feedback on their products. Their final prototypes and products were showcased in a business pitch for audience members to purchase and possibly invest in.
Project IDEATE
Sustaining Our Resources
In this project, 4th grade students explored the drought dilemma. They investigated the causes and effects of the issue, and developed methods to improve the situation in their local community. Throughout the project, students wrote persuasive letters and advocate for a more sustainable California lifestyle. Additionally, students learned about ways they can reduce their water footprint. As final products, students produced a water conservation guide and PSA's to promote awareness to their community.
Growing Connections
The purpose of this project was to build connections and create a beautiful community together. Throughout the project, students collaborated to solve the essential question,: “How can we grow together?”
Within the project, students wrote “Where I’m From” poems to describe who they are. They also explored and shared their wonderings, passions, and hopes and dreams for the school. Through the process students found connections amongst each other’s ideas. From those discoveries, they discussed how they wanted to create a new community together.
For the garden boxes, students participated in the design process of critique and multiple drafts. They practiced measurement to craft their boxes. Additionally, they measured various parts of the school to determine the amount of garden boxes each location could hold.
Finally, students engaged in scientific inquiry and learned about various plants, including California native plants. They examined our school space to find locations for each plant’s needs regarding proper sunlight. They also investigated soil and water variables for each plant.
The culminating products produced were small garden boxes placed throughout the school to symbolize our growth together.
Protecting our Watershed
As a part of our paying it forward project, the students have adopted Frazee beach in Carlsbad State Beach. In this project, students studied our local watershed and ocean habitat, then explored simple machines to build a marble run to teach their community how trash ends up in the ocean. Students tried to promote awareness of the issues of trash through their marble run and wrote creative informational text as to how we can protect our local habitat. Their pieces of work were exhibited at Carlsbad State Beach to the local community.
Playing for Change
Playing for Change
In this project, students studied music and how music makes a difference in their lives and in the lives of others. The students explored the science of music, experienced music and created music. With their knowledge, students built musical instruments to donate to their new school and to the Corazon de Vida orphanage in Baja California. It is our hope that we can spread music education to others.