GEARED UP
EXPLORING ENGINEERING USING LEGOSLearning First-Hand
Kids get excited about STEM…
by taking on the hands-on challenge of engineering simple machines with LEGOs.
Students predict, build, and test…
how variables affect the performance of machines, and learn first-hand about friction, mass, moving energy and efficiency.
Students work together…
in teams of two, learning to cooperate, listen and build on their partner’s ideas — and to persist when at first they fail.
Connecting to the real world…
through field trips helps the kids get excited about engineering applications.
HANDS-ON EDUCATIONAL TOOLS
BUILDING A TOY DOG WITH EYES THAT BLINK
CAPTURING WIND ENERGY TO RUN MACHINES
CONSTRUCTING A DRAGSTER AND MAKING IT ROLL FARTHEST
GEARED UP:
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excites students and teachers about engineering and technology
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prepares a wide variety of students for VEX Robotics in the middle schools
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connects the community to the classroom by bringing in volunteers, including engineers, technology experts and parents
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enhances the science and math curricula in elementary school
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promotes hands-on problem solving and teamwork skills
District 97 Teacher
“The Geared Up program has been invaluable. The hands-on experiences help students to better understand simple machines and their importance in our everyday lives. I also incorporate a writing (persuasive) piece where students create an original machine and try to sell the ‘gadget.'”
District 97 Teacher
“The best part of Geared Up was watching a student who normally struggles in school have his moment to shine when we were working with LEGOs. It feels great to give him a sense of accomplishment.”
District 97 Teacher
“This year our field trip to the Oak Park Public Works Department was awesome! The students saw how simple machines are used everyday in the maintenance of our village and their positive impact and necessity.”
District 97 Teacher
“The students have to practice cooperation, communication, hand-eye coordination and spatial skills that don’t always come by doing a worksheet.”
Geared Up News
Robot Rumble!
Six teams of VEX Robotics students at Julian Middle School designed robots, then built and battled each other in a Robot Rumble, exploring the various aspects of technology in competitive fun. The hands-on projects were organized in small groups, and kids...
Robots and the American Revolution
What if Paul Revere was played by a robot? Working with D97 librarians, we recently began a pilot program for fifth graders combining our popular Geared Up and Robotics programs. The six-week residency excites kids about coding, tech, and robots and provides a new...
Geared Up Guest Blogger: Sofia Ryan
We have some special guest bloggers in March and April as Ms. Nelson’s third graders (Longfellow) have agreed to share their thoughts on the Geared Up program with us. Geared Up is an excellent introduction to engineering, using LEGOs. The program was first proposed...
“WE CAN’T DO IT WITHOUT YOU”
$50 supplies LEGOS to a class of OPEF ‘Geared Up’ students for a trimester.
Gretchen Junker
GEARED UP COORDINATOR
Gretchen Junker is the community member who proposed Geared Up to the Oak Park Education Foundation during our Call for Ideas to the community in May, 2008. She is the parent of 3 young boys and has lived in Oak Park for 3 years. Gretchen has a B.A. in Comparative History of Ideas from the University of Washington. “Geared Up shows kids that science (and school) can be fun,” she says. “Our family has always had an interest in how things work, and that curiosity has managed to fuel our day-to-day life. For me, Geared Up is a natural extension of what my 3 sons and I have already incorporated into our ongoing family dialogue.”