Learning with toys

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POCATELLO — Jynnae Smedley played the part of a toy manufacturer at a trade show Friday at District 25’s GATE Way Center.

She made her rounds from one group of third-graders to another as the students pitched ideas for conceptual gadgets such as “digital fun” and “pet ride.”

The student presentations were the finale of an eight-week project designed to promote teamwork and public speaking. Students are bussed to the GATE Way Center, 209 Von Elm Lane, one day a week from their respective elementary schools in District 25.

“They have been so creative,” Smedley said. “I think they are really using their brains to think things out, and they are also getting experience presenting.”

Smedley, whose son Jackson attends the center, said her favorite device was digital fun, a small hand-held computer on which people can order most any product they want and have it delivered within two hours.

The project started in February with the class separating into groups. Each group brainstormed ideas for possible toys that they would eventually try to sell to pretend toy manufacturers — their parents — during Friday’s presentation.

To prepare for the big day, the students made poster displays, complete with colorful graphs, mottos and logos and a description of the conceptual toy they invented. Together, the entire class formed the “Space Express” toy company with the motto, “If you want some fun, how about space on the run.”

Gateway teacher Christina Melancon said the presentation was a good exercise in persuasion.

Melancon said the project was challenging at times because each group of students had to agree on which idea they would develop for the final presentation.

“In the end, they all did a wonderful job,” Melancon said.

Jackson’s group designed the pet ride, which is a remote-control car for small pet passengers. He said he used to have pet gerbils and rats, which helped him during the brainstorming phase. The presentation was another matter.

“It was embarrassing,” Jackson said. “I don’t like presenting things to people. I get nervous.”

By Casey Santee

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