Weeklong program explores technology in its earliest forms with hands-on experience in the creation and development of early-human skills.
COLUMBIA, S.C. (November 7, 2018)—Hammond, an independent school offering students pre-kindergarten through grade 12 a thoughtfully developed academic experience, celebrates technology in its most primitive forms with its annual ‘Early Technology Week’ November 12-16. The weeklong program provides all 5th-grade students with hands-on experience exploring how our ancestors created primitive technology through various early techniques. Students will spend each day outside under the direction of nationally recognized early technologists, as well as Hammond School instructors, including Hammond’s naturalist-in-residence, Tom Mancke, learning techniques with burn and scrape tools, flint and cordage necklaces, deer-foot tool kits and much more.
Throughout the week students will rotate to various stations, each with a different focus on a primitive skill and an educational experience that connects early technological concepts with those of the twenty-first century, like critical thinking, problem solving, information gathering and collaboration.
According to Headmaster Chris Angel, “In an era in which we are focusing on the importance of design thinking, we at Hammond are making a connection between the skills we’re accomplishing with modern technology: gathering and assessing information, collaboration, innovation, critical thinking and problem solving, and those mastered by our forefathers. These are the earliest of STEAM initiatives, employed by those who came before us. Early Tech Week allows us to expand the classroom to the natural world, while connecting both primitive and modern technology.”
Conceived of and developed by former fifth-grade teacher René Bickley and Tom Mancke, the program quickly grew from a two-day experience to the most highly anticipated week in the fifth grade year. Now in its 26th year Early Technology Week still has purpose and authenticity according to Bickley. “While the classroom gives depth of meaning, the hands on experience literally brings learning to life. Experiential education at its best! Hammond done right,” she added.
Earlier this school year, Hammond launched its Innovation Center, a 30,000 square foot facility that's a home for science and technology-related disciplines as well as the SciDome planetarium and a maker space. Early Technology Week is yet another example of Hammond's commitment to providing students with unique experiential learning opportunities beyond the walls of the traditional classroom.
“We’re creating spaces where students can discover smart tools, 3D printers, and laser cutters,” said Mancke. “By contrast, Early Technology Week is a unique opportunity for students to discover primitive technologies that are vastly different, yet in many ways quite similar. This weeklong ‘outdoor lab’ gives them the chance to explore their relationship with the natural world.”
To learn more about Hammond and the Innovation Center, visit HammondSchool.org, or find @HammondSchool on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Hammond is located at 854 Galway Lane in Columbia.
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About Hammond School
Hammond School embraces a future-focused philosophy. The school is committed to instilling in students academic excellence, harnessing the power of curiosity, and helping develop empathetic and global leaders through a well-rounded curriculum.
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