Grade 4 Lighthouse Project Illuminates Classroom Learning

Lower School students in grade 4 built lighthouses in science teacher David Beshk’s class, applying a variety of lessons learned throughout the first semester.

 

The lighthouse project is the formative project in which grade 4 students study electricity, circuits, light waves, and lenses. Additional learnings include electrical concepts, series circuits, how conductors and insulators are used, open versus closed circuits and how a switch can govern the flow of electricity. Moreover, students applied the concepts of refracting and reflecting light using both mirrors and lenses. 

Mr. Beshk remarked, “The grade 4 lighthouse project is one of my favorites! Students love the hands-on nature of the project because they get to use soldering irons and wire strippers while constructing their very own battery powered circuit. This project seamlessly integrates months of classroom lessons and laboratory investigation.”

 

The lighthouses also demonstrate how light is used to communicate. These glowing towers are valuable to navigation and identifying dangerous objects in waterways. However, the distinctive patterns, day marks, on lighthouses also communicate information. These multi-colored stripes and patterns are part of the lighthouses each student builds and designs. In addition to learning about how daymarks were used as navigational aids to sailors, students also learned about the lifestyles and challenges faced by lighthouse keepers.

Mr. Beshk points out that the lighthouses spark students beyond the classroom, “Students are so proud of the completed lighthouses that they often clap and cheer. It truly is a beautiful site to see the multi-colored LEDs glowing in the darkened classroom. I often hear from Middle School students that they still have their lighthouses proudly displayed in their bedrooms. I am so proud of the current grade 4 students and am happy that we get to share their lighthouses with the St. Margaret’s community.”