School Wide Curiosity
Yesterday, I had the opportunity to take part in an event called Innovation Hour at a local elementary school. The intention behind this experience was to bring students from across together and invite them into hands on learning that they may not otherwise experience!
I worked with students in grades three through six for roughly three hours. My first assignment was helping to run the Go Cube station alongside two other teacher candidates. Go Cubes are smart rubix cubes that connect to an iPad and guide students through games as well as step by step strategies for solving the cube.
Learning While Uncertainty
Although the concept was fascinating, there was certainly a learning curve for me. I had never touched a Go Cube before this event, and I am still not entirely sure how I ended up at that station, but we found our footing. We ran into challenges connecting the cubes to the iPads and spent the first two groups troubleshooting. By the time the third group arrived we had a workable system and a steady rhythm. That rhythm was tested again when some cubes suddenly disconnected and refused to sync. We later discovered that a few cubes had been adjusted by previous students and needed resetting.
Even with these hurdles the students remained patient, curious, and enthusiastic. Once we had everything functioning properly it was incredibly rewarding to watch them learn how to navigate the cubes, solve them, and engage with the games. Their excitement reminded me that perseverance and experimentation are just as important as technical skill.
Cardboard Creations
The second station brought a new set of challenges and an entirely different kind of fun. This activity invited students to design cardboard airplanes using stencils, cut out the pieces with a Chomp Saw, and assemble their creations. The Chomp Saw quickly became my favourite part of the day. It is a remarkably clever tool that slices through cardboard with ease while remaining completely safe for children.
Having worked as a nanny for years, I have created countless cardboard projects from dollhouses to dinosaurs to elaborate forts. A tool like this would have transformed those projects entirely! The only limitation was time. Our first group completed only one airplane. The second managed five. The third produced around eight. Despite this, the students were captivated. Many were amazed that the saw could cut cardboard so cleanly, but wasn’t a danger to their fingers.
After the first group I moved into the role of guiding students through the cutting process. I would demonstrate the saw, let them try it with my support, then ask if they felt ready to do it independently. Almost every student said yes. Watching them focus, take initiative, and trust themselves was the highlight of the entire event!
Looking Back on the Experience
Innovation Hour offered more than a chance to explore cool tools and creative activities. It demonstrated the power of hands on learning, the value of student agency, and the enduring importance of patience and adaptability in educational spaces.
For me, this experience reinforced how meaningful it is to create opportunities that invite students to take risks, collaborate, and see themselves as capable innovators!