High Road Academy of Prince George’s County Celebrates STEM Day
STEM Day Boat Building Challenge
In November, the High Road Academy of Prince George’s County celebrated National STEM Day with a hands-on boat-building competition. Bringing together students from seven classes, it was a fun and engaging way to explore science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).
Materials and Engineering Task
Classes were provided the same set of materials to build their boats: 10 coffee filters; one roll of aluminum foil; 10 popsicle sticks; a cardboard box; shipping boxes; and five pipe cleaners. Students were tasked with creating a boat that would float and move fast. The challenge was timely as some of the science classes had been focusing on modes of transportation and engineering, offering them a practical opportunity.
STEM Day Teamwork and Creativity Across Classes
“The goal was to promote teamwork and creativity between the classes, encouraging our students to work together and use their imagination,” said Kimberly Cherry, school director of High Road Academy of Prince George’s County.
Science Concepts in Action
It was also a fun lesson in buoyancy and mechanics as students constructed the boats, learning which materials held water and which didn’t, and figuring out how the design of their boat affected its performance.
Competition and Timed Testing
Building the boats was a race against the clock, with students having two hours to build, a test in the classroom gondola, and 30 minutes to finalize their designs. Both excitement and pressure filled the hallways.
Races, Results, and Student Energy
When it came time to compete, Ms. Cherry said the energy in the room was “electric.” For five rounds, students were called at random to race their boats, powering them forward by blowing through a jumbo straw.
“To our surprise, our students were just as competitive as the adults,” said Ms. Cherry. “Everyone was engaged, whether with building the boat, testing, or racing. It was like we were at a basketball game for the students. And it was great to see them cheering on their classmates.”
Lasting Impact of STEM Day Learning
While some boats sank, one stayed all the way to the finish line afloat. The winning class – Ms. Nicole Griffin’s 7th and 8th-grade middle schoolers – beat out both elementary and high school competitors. Their victory earned them a celebratory Chick-fil-A lunch.
“We hope our students walked away from STEM Day with a deeper interest and understanding of what STEM is,” said Ms. Cherry. “Now their eyes are open to different careers and opportunities as post-school options, while also learning the importance of working with others.”