Last spring, fourth grade art students made virtual 3D models of sailboats in landscapes with Sketch Up for Schools computer-aided design (CAD) software on Chromebooks. Students learned techniques for using the basic tools of SketchUp to make the complex forms that appear in their models. The design above is by Caroline Connelly. More screenshots of students’ CAD models appear below. After creating their SketchUp models, students selected views which they saved as “scenes”. SketchUp enables viewing of scenes in sequence by moving from one scene to the next as a video. Mr. Bell, the art teacher, compiled scene sequences from the students’ Sketch Up models shown here to create the video below.
In collaboration with the SketchUp sailboat project, Mrs. Harris’s fourth grade Religion classes researched different Scripture passages that related to boats and water. They didn’t just read the Scripture. Students took time to think deeply about it and reflect on what each passage meant to them personally. They then put those thoughts into writing.
This gave students a chance to practice so many important Religion skills: finding Scripture, understanding God’s Word, making connections, reflecting on their faith, and putting their thoughts into their own words. Some of the 4th graders read and wrote appears below.
“Friends, I can see this voyage will be dangerous and that we will run considerable risk of losing not only the cargo and the ship but also our lives as well.” Acts 27:10
To me it means to trust my friends and to not panic even when you are about to risk your own life. Just be calm and trust God will save me. -Adamaris Cruz
“When he caught sight of two boats at the water’s edge. The fishermen had got out of them and were washing their nets.” Luke 5:1-11
This verse is talking about Jesus finding two boats on the shore, belonging to fishermen who got out of them to wash their nets. Before Jesus spots the boats, He was being pressured by a crowd that wanted to hear Him preach. When Jesus sees the boats, he gets into one and performs a miracle. That is how He preached to the people. –Cassie Meadows
“But your providence, Father, is what steers it, you having opened a pathway even through the sea, and a safe way over the waves.” Wisdom 14:3
This is so powerful to me because even when life is rough like the waves, God always steers us in the right direction. He makes a safe path for us to follow. – Lena Jane Walter
“When he caught sight of two boats at the water’s edge. The fishermen had got out of them and were washing their nets.” Luke 5:2
It reminds me that after you do stuff you have to pick up after yourself because your parents aren’t always going to be there to pick up after you. It reminds me to pick up after myself. -Camila Anciano
“Jesus said, ‘Come.’ Then Peter got out of the boat and started walking towards Jesus across the water.” -Mathew 14:29
If you listen to and believe in Jesus everything will be okay. –Henry Dalyai
“The sailors took fright, and each of them called on his own god, and to lighten the ship they threw the cargo overboard. Jonah, however, had gone below, had lain down in the hold and was fast asleep,
Then the boatswain went up to him and said, ‘What do you mean by sleeping? Get up! Call on your god! Perhaps he will spare us a thought and not leave us to die.’Then they said to him, ‘Tell us, what is your business? Where do you come from? What is your country? What is your nationality? He replied, ‘I am a Hebrew, and I worship Yahweh, God of Heaven, who made both sea and dry land. They then said, ‘What are we to do with you, to make the sea calm down for us?’ For the sea was growing rougher and rougher. He replied, ‘Take me and throw me into the sea, and then it will calm down for you. I know it is my fault that this great storm has struck you.’ and taking hold of Jonah they threw him into the sea; and the sea stopped raging. At this, the men were seized with dread of Yahweh; they offered a sacrifice to Yahweh and made vows to him.” Jonah 1: 8-16
This teaches me to always make sacrifices for God. If He tells me to do something just like Mary, I should always say yes. -Nash Liles
“He got into one of the boats — it was Simon’s — and asked him to put out a little from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat.” Luke 5:3
Jesus is teaching people about God our Savior. Jesus got into Simon’s boat and taught the crowds telling them to praise the Lord, their maker. –Charlie Worthington
