How would you construct a sturdy bridge with only a piece of paper and some masking tape?
That was the question put to Hindley Elementary School students recently when they had some invited guests from Darien High School.
Photo from Darien Public Schools
DHS students enrolled in the Independent Projects in Engineering course are visiting some elementary schools to do hands-on work connected to Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM).
The visit was coordinated by DHS Technology Education teachers Lorraine Westervelt and Jeromy Nelson as part of an outreach to elementary students. This year’s focus on civil engineering was reflected in the bridge-making project.
During a hands-on assembly, the students constructed bridges in teams in collaboration with the DHS students. Younger students used marshmallows, spaghetti, and popsicle sticks, while older students used paper and masking tape (pictured above).
__________
— this article is from the Darien Public Schools “News of the Week” newsletter
__________
Grade 5 Hindley teacher Katy Gale said the excitement of the bridge project was palpable.
“The room was abuzz with activity and exclamations as bridge designs became more and more sturdy and able to hold more weight,” said Gale. “Elementary students are getting a real hands-on and challenging opportunity to understand what it is to be an engineer from their high school role models.”