Innovation Lab Collaboration at its Best at Jack Abrams Intermediate

Our 6th grade students have been hard at work in Innovation Lab designing and creating animal prosthetics! Under the direction of Mrs. LaRocca, our Innovation Lab and LEAD teacher, and in collaboration with their classroom teachers, students have explored how injuries and changes to an animal’s ecosystem can affect its ability to survive.

Working in peer groups, students were each assigned an animal case and challenged to design a prosthetic using recycled materials such as paper rolls, tubes, foam, wire, and more. Throughout the process, students researched their animal, developed visual models, explained their designs, and evaluated how well their prosthetics would function. They also carefully considered the materials needed to create a prosthetic that closely resembles the animal’s missing limb, tail, or other body part.

This hands-on learning experience encourages creativity, collaboration, critical thinking, and problem-solving while helping students apply their knowledge of ecosystems and animal adaptations!