First graders across the Mahopac Central School District had a hands-on introduction to the engineering design process during a STEAM lesson with teachers Jennifer Borst from Lakeview Elementary, Patricia Huestis from Austin Road Elementary and Mimi Murphy from Fulmar Road Elementary. Their challenge: to rescue as many rubber ducks as possible from a table or floor made of “hot lava” using only the materials provided.
Working in teams, students brainstormed, tested and refined their designs, quickly discovering the importance of building strong, stable structures. Along the way, they learned a valuable engineering principle, that triangles make the strongest base for construction.
“The best part of STEAM lessons is seeing how naturally young students take on the role of engineers,” Borst said. “They bring so much creativity and enthusiasm to solving problems, and even when their first design doesn’t work, they’re eager to adjust and try again.”
Through the playful “rubber duck rescue,” students practiced problem-solving, teamwork and perseverance, all while building excitement and a knowledge base for future STEAM projects.
