East Brainerd Elementary’s VW eLab is a hands-on learning environment designed to give K–5 students opportunities to imagine, design, build, test, create, and improve. The lab brings together engineering, technology, creativity, and problem-solving in a space where students learn by doing.

Students explore a wide variety of tools and technologies, including robotics, coding, 3D design and printing, laser cutting, digital fabrication, electronics, engineering tools, and traditional makerspace materials. Projects are intentionally designed to connect classroom learning with real-world challenges while building collaboration, communication, perseverance, and creative thinking.

Our eLab program is especially focused on making advanced tools and authentic STEM experiences accessible to elementary students. Younger students begin with foundational skills such as following processes, building, creating, collaborating, and learning how technology works. As students progress through the grade levels, they gain increasing independence with design software, robotics, fabrication equipment, and the engineering design process.

The lab also emphasizes responsible making through our SOAR expectations: Safety, Ownership, Aspiration, and Respect. Students learn that being a maker is not simply about using exciting equipment—it is about identifying problems, taking thoughtful risks, learning from failure, improving ideas, and creating solutions that have purpose.

With two VW eLab spaces serving our school community, we are building a K–5 pathway where every student has the opportunity to see themselves as an engineer, designer, programmer, inventor, and creator.