A Lightbulb Moment: John Young Elementary Students Shine with Electricity Project
The library at John Young Elementary School lit up with innovation, thanks to an electrifying project by Grade 5 and 6 Core French students. On June 17th, these young learners unveiled their end-of-year showcase, highlighting their skills in French, science, art and social studies.
Students began the project by learning electrical terms in French and English, along with the fundamentals of electrical circuits. The classes were then tasked with a culminating project: to design and construct miniature structures with working electrical components.
The students built everything from multi-level houses to hospitals, from lighthouses to coffee shops. With the guidance of their teachers – Mr. Harrod, Mr. McCheyne, Miss G. and Mr. Ajay – they set up circuits to light their models. They also explored ways to generate electricity using hand-crank generators, gaining a deeper understanding of the importance of energy conservation.
The display captivated the entire school community, leaving everyone impressed by the students' ingenuity. “The electricity project was so fun and our group worked so hard to make the house perfect,” said Parker, Lili, Olivia, Aisha and Alyla. “It was so fun to see the little kids admire the house and we can't wait for next year!”
Jad and Jude discovered new skills and ideas as they brought their project to life. “The house project taught us much more than just French. During the building stage, Mr. Ajay pushed us to explore our creative sides, learning collaboration and self-expression in the process. Then, we all learned a completely different part of electricity than we are normally used to and got in-depth in wiring, connecting and making it work perfectly.”
The project's broader impact was also recognized by students like Saeeb, who highlighted how it combined two important skills: teamwork and creativity. Saeeb emphasized that these are crucial skills for future jobs, adding, "Electricity is really fun to learn about and to test. It makes you feel so cool and special after you made your own circuit because you made something that billions of people use everyday. It fills you with pride and excitement.”
The school community is incredibly proud of how these students tackled a big challenge with curiosity and dedication. The future of innovation is looking bright, especially with students like these lighting the way!
