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Students Push Engineering Designs to the Limit
December 8, 2014
“Our friends did a great job using their math, problem-solving and social skills,” said Gator Room teacher Susan Brand. “They also developed a better understanding of how things connect together.”
At Sappington, the school’s library makerspace was buzzing with the sights and sounds of robots. First- and second-graders used common household items to construct simple robots powered by 1.5-3 volt offset toy motors. Some students adjusted their original designs to make their robots more mobile.
“It has been so much fun watching our students imagine and create,” said Sappington library assistant Beth Grebe.
At Truman, eighth-graders were introduced to the fields of engineering and design during Scott Walker’s technology education class. Students worked in groups to design and build bridges made of only paper and tape. The groups were also required follow time and budget limitations.
Walker tested the bridges for structural integrity by adding weight to each span. The winning bridge, designed by Tim Borawski, Josh Karberg and Breaunna Tuter, held 15 pounds before failing.