3rd Grade Engineering Teams
Source/Author: Jen Hobbs, 3rd Grade Teacher
October 12, 2017
Third graders put their engineering skills to the test this week with a STEAM challenge from Dr. Baralt and Mrs. Smay. Divided into teams two, each team received 30 plastic cups and two chopsticks. They were challenged to see which team could build the tallest structure using all 30 cups. The teams discovered their task was complicated further by the final requirements - only chopsticks could touch the cups, and only one hand on the chopstick.
The challenge was an exercise in communication and creative problem-solving; teammates had to work together to effectively build their tower. Through iteration and some failed attempts, the students learned early engineering principles, discovering that the structures with a wider base were more supportive.
"In challenges like this, we give the criteria, but no directions," says Dr. Anna Baralt, Shorecrest Director of Educational Technology. "They have a great time, but they also learn how to work together and get really creative to solve their problems."
