Foundations in Motion

IgniteLAB is a structured, holistic 3-year journey where kids ages 8–12 learn to think like innovators in the age of AI. Year 1, learners will design 2D games, build robots, and invent gadgets that combine software, hardware, and engineering principles. At the heart of IGNITE Lab is computational thinking, the ability to break problems into smaller parts, recognize patterns, and design step-by-step solutions. This is the thinking skill behind all modern technology, and it’s the foundation that makes kids resilient problem-solvers in school, in future careers, and in life. IgniteLAB Lab works alongside what schools and other programs offer, enhancing classroom learning with applied practice and project-based exploration. Every student is supported at their own level, beginners gain confidence with block-based coding and robotics fundamentals, while advanced learners dive into challenge extensions like multi-sensor robots, complex game mechanics, and connected circuits. By year’s end, every child has a portfolio of real projects and the confidence to present them at our EXPOs. More importantly, they’ve begun a journey that will prepare them to transition from block-based to text-based programming — and from curious learners to future-ready makers, inventors, and problem-solvers.

"Three ways to solve the same problem." This term kicks off the year with creativity and movement. Students design their own interactive 2D games using block-based coding as they strengthen their coding fundamentals, including loops, events, variables, and logic. They will build LEGO® SPIKE robots that navigate mazes as they respond to sensors and navigate challenges. and create obstacle worlds in Minecraft. Through this playful balance of coding and robotics, children begin to think like engineers, understanding concepts such as force, motion, and cause-and-effect. This term builds confidence in computational thinking while connecting coding, engineering, and digital making. Parents join the Arcade & Robotics Expo to celebrate student creations. By the Expo, they’ll proudly showcase both a game they’ve coded and a robot they’ve engineered.

In winter, students step into the role of young inventors. Using circuits and the micro:bit, they create gadgets such as reaction timers, step counters, and wearable pets that combine code with hardware. They expand their digital portfolio by learning new game design skills with 2D projects in Arcade, experimenting with randomness, scoring, and conditional logic. And with Minecraft, they engineer Redstone contraptions. This blend of digital and physical making encourages kids to see technology as something they can shape with their own hands. By the Expo, parents will tour an “Inventors’ Alley” of student-built gadgets alongside an Arcade corner of new games.

The year culminates in an exciting maker sprint. Students bring everything together, coding, robotics, and circuits, to design integrated products that solve problems or entertain. They might create a robotic scoreboard, a simple delivery bot, or a polished multi-level game. They may collaborate on Minecraft worlds that prototype real inventions. Older students can extend their learning with 3D design, prototyping enclosures or accessories with Tinkercad and even experimenting with Blender. This final term emphasizes teamwork, iteration, and presentation, preparing students to transition from block-based to text-based coding in future years. The year closes with a grand Makers’ Expo where families celebrate student creativity, persistence, and innovation.