On Tuesday afternoons the Mission Hill staff participates in professional development meetings. This week, the focus was on learning with Legos. Many thanks to parent, Steve Banzaert, who helped facilitate.
![DSC_0427](http://www.missionhillschool.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/DSC_0427-1024x680.jpg)
Teachers investigated Duplo kits with simple machines and structures, by following designs. These are a great way for young children to get their hands on materials and start to think about coding.
![DSC_0419](http://www.missionhillschool.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/DSC_0419-1024x680.jpg)
Duplo tubes were also used. Here pre-made designs were followed and then teachers created their own. One challenge was to make a structure that would allow a ball to travel a distance and hit a wall.
![DSC_0418](http://www.missionhillschool.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/DSC_0418-1024x680.jpg)
![DSC_0426](http://www.missionhillschool.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/DSC_0426-1024x680.jpg)
WeDo is another kit that was examined. Staff built robots and programmed them, while also teaching themselves new programming techniques.