Educational Excellence Since 1912
Hamden Hall Country Day School
Educating students in PreSchool through Grade 12

From Head of School Bob Izzo

"Making is so complementary to the foundation we build in our students at Hamden Hall as it fosters innovation, resourcefulness, and motivation. It requires collaboration, teamwork, curiosity, and social responsibility – all traits that are instilled in students via the Hamden Hall experience. The MakerSpace Design Lab will allow our students to reach new goals and successes in a variety of disciplines as they share knowledge and work together to see their visions come to fruition."

MakerSpace Mentionables

From a Maritime History Class:

Three projects created for Tom Iampietro’s Maritime History course involved boat making – one constructed in Hamden Hall’s MakerSpace Design Lab under the tutelage of science teacher David Bennett. Seniors Sean Morrissey and Matt Murchison built a 4-by-8 foot flat bottom Jon Boat out of plywood that was sealed with primer and painted with oil-based paint. The vessel proved sea-worthy as it was launched in the pool with a crowd of bystanders cheering on the maiden voyage.
 

From our Kindergarten Class:

Kindergartners were treated to a 40-minute exercise in the MakerSpace Design Lab, which exposed them to hands-on, small motor skill activities. Students enjoyed working with tools such as pliers and adjustable wrenches - not to mention the nuts, bolts, and washers. 

Fostering Creativity Across the Curriculum

 
Our MakerSpace Design Lab fosters creativity as it provides students an opportunity to create, design, build, and tinker with all varieties of materials and resources. Students at all levels are introduced to our MakerSpace Design Lab in order to augment project-based learning.
 
MakerSpace Resources Include:
  • Computers loaded with CAD software and 3D design programs
  • Table saw, scroll saw, band saw, and compound miter saw
  • CNC router - a computer-navigated cutting tool
  • 3D printer
  • Soldering station
  • Mill-working equipment
  • Workstations
MakerSpace Highlights:
  • Fifth-grade bean bag toss project
  • Maritime boat making project
  • Middle School math project: 3D architectural scale model of dream houses
  • Middle and Upper School woodworking classes and clubs
  • Third-grade Native American structures
  • Middle School Electronics Club
  • Upper School Robotics Club
  • Tower Challenge, Middle School Technology and Design class
  • Ball Maze Challenge, Middle School Technology and Design class
  • Sustainable Architecture project, Ecological Science class
    • MAKERS AT WORK

Robotics Club

Hamden Hall offers Robotics participation in Grades 6 through 12.

Our Middle School team meets twice a week after school and competes in the First LEGO League Challenge, which tackles a new real-world issue each year. Each year a different theme is introduced. For example, one school year the theme was Hydro Dynamics. “With the Hydro Dynamics theme, the team worked on a robot to tackle water-themed challenges as well as a presentation on global water access problems,” explained team advisor Ian MacDonald.
 
The Upper School Robotics Club competes within the Vex Robotics league. Non-competitive members are engaged in smaller projects, such as designing and building solar-powered cars and programming with the Rasberry Pi.

Technical Education

The Middle School Technology and Design portion of the curriculum allows Middle Schoolers to experience and learn certain life skills while delving into the design equipment in our MakerSpace Lab and the technology found in our Swain Library and Barbara Olin Taylor Learning Commons.

Seventh-graders tackled the Tower Challenge in our MakerSpace Design Lab. Students were instructed to create towers at least 4 feet tall by using limited materials. The towers had to be able to withstand a breeze from a fan that simulated wind. The results were colorful and creative!

Eighth-graders took part in the Ball Maze Challenge, which had students designing and building mazes that could be negotiated by a half-inch steel ball. The initiative was challenging, demanding, and fun according to students!

Hamden Hall Country Day School

About Us

Hamden Hall Country Day School is a nurturing and inclusive community with a dynamic learning environment that promotes academic excellence by understanding each child and fostering their individual growth.