The Imagination Celebration at Baden Academy included the celebration of the hard work of the twelve research fellow projects (22 students!) at Baden Academy.
Eli L. (4th Grade) with assistant Tim B. premiered Butterfly Girl, an original creative film highlighting the work of Erin C. (3rd grade) to save the Monarch butterfly.
Gavin P. (4th Grade) with assistant Brian C. worked hard on their book Saving a Galapagos Penguin Family with profits earmarked for the National Aviary. This children’s book is a wonderful short story about two boys who bravely work to rescue a family of Galapagos Penguins.
Kate H. (4th Grade) has authored The ABCs of Veggies, a hilarious and artistic preschool children’s book. The Pittsburgh Food Bank is the recipient of any profits made from the sale of her book.
Veronica J. (4th Grade) and Kamryn V. co-authored Hamster Fun Facts with proceeds to benefit ASPCA. Way too cute!
Kadie B. (3rd Grade) premiered her website Kadie’s Souvenirs with Baden Academy print on demand coffee mugs, iPad cases, and student art tees. Funds are being raised to integrate a mission command from Dream Flight Adventures into the Media Lab
Miriam Whitacre (4th Grade) with assistant Jadyn Perza have successfully posted their first two Kitty Whisperer videos on YouTube. They have become cat rescue advocates by helping the Humane Society in their adoption efforts. Tune in soon for their the upcoming Kitten webisode.
Erin Cheek (3rd Grade) has made Baden Academy an official Monarch Way Station. Her milkweed plants were used by 4th grade to understand plant life cycles, germination and pollination concepts as they enjoy watching them grow during recess!
Other projects included a directory of tested mobile app development tools by Owen Rossi-Keen (4th grade), an interactive educational piece to help our film and game makers integrate music into their projects Skylar Reese (4th Grade), and the dynamic hands-on presentation for kids by Courtney Webster (4th Grade) with assistant Elise Propst on How (not) to Break a Computer.
The most popular display of the night was the virtual Baden Academy created in MinecraftEdu. Casey R. (4th Grade) with assistants Matt S. and Caleb K created this interactive 3D model of the school to demonstrate the educational potential of this gaming environment.
Mentors collected for these various teams and projects ranged from Mother Monarch, environmental engineers, MinecraftEdu teachers in Finland and Australia, Pittsburgh Filmmakers, parents, the incredible graphic design work of Michele Lishack and the Beaver County Youth Entrepreneurship Collaborative.
Some of the kids are even going to space. Well, their names at least. Ava C.s (4th Grade) with assistants Glorian M., Emily F., and Bryant A. have demonstrated the right stuff in their NASA Design Challenge. They are now part of the official virtual crew aboard the Orion (NASA’s replacement for the Space Shuttle).
Special thanks go out to all the parent volunteers and bake sale donations, particularly Rose Webster. $300 was raised for more lab equipment! Applications for next year’s Research Fellow Programs are on the Media Lab Blog site “About” page.