CAES junior engineers are learning what engineers do, the different types of engineers, and how engineering helps our everyday lives.
Why is it important to teach elementary engineering?
Engineering activities tap into the natural curiosity and creativity of all children.
Children are born engineers—they are fascinated with designing their own creations, with taking things apart, and with figuring out how things work.
In engineering class, students learn to work together, stay curious, problem solve & think critically using creativity. See the following for more skills our young engineers learn:
Knowledge (Know about/that):
what engineering and technology are and what engineers do
various fields of engineering
nearly everything in the human world has been touched by engineering
engineering problems have multiple solutions
how society influences and is influenced by engineering
engineers are from all races, ethnicities, and sexes and have various abilities/disabilities
Skills/Experience (Be able to do):
engage in the engineering design process
apply science and mathematics to engineering problems
use creativity and careful thinking to solve problems
envision one’s own abilities as an engineer
troubleshoot and learn from failure
understand the central role of materials and their properties in engineering solutions
Our cardinals know that they are inventors and...
Mistakes are for learning.
Pre-K
Preschoolers learned that engineers use shapes. They created structures and pictures with pattern blocks. They learned to keep trying because engineers never give up.
Kindergarten
Kindergarten students learned that mistakes are okay and part of the learning process. They learned that engineers use patterns, shapes, and foundations. They learned engineers invent solutions to our everyday problems. Students used their imaginations to turn a stick into something new. They learned to build tall towers. They learned words like height, taller, shorter, and structure.
First Grade
First grade students learned the importance of teamwork. They learned to have perseverance. They learned that it takes multiple tries to get good results; it's part of the engineering design process. They learned that a prototype is a model of a solution to solve a problem. They learned about balance and symmetry. Engineers use balance and symmetry in their designs. They learned to build towers with a foundation and symmetry. They learned to measure their tower using standard measurement, inches.
Second Grade
Second graders learned to work with a partner. They learned it takes communication skills to work well with a team. They learned to fail forward. They learned to invent, create, and problem solve through multiple design challenges including creating a monster trap and perch for Harry ( a pom pom with wiggly eyes) to see around the room. They learned to brainstorm and plan. They learned to follow their plan to select their own materials to create a prototype.
Third Grade
Students learned to work with a partner. Students learned that teamwork is important and helpful in completing engineering tasks. Students learned to build towers out of paper by creating strong paper beams. They learned that all buildings need a foundation and support. They learned about beams, columns, and structures like skyscrapers. They measured height by inches, feet, and yards. They used critical thinking skills in all engineering challenges, but especially when they created an invention to solve a real problem. They learned that it takes multiple tries, iterations, to have success. They learned that failure is part of the engineering process. Students invented a dropper to help Bobby, a bobby pin, land safely. They followed the engineering design process, recorded their results, and redesigned their dropper based on their findings. Students shared all their designs: successes and failures. They learned that we all learn from each other even if what we do doesn't work out. "Mistakes are for learning."
Opportunity
William & Mary’s Center for Gifted Education is excited to announce its Saturday Enrichment Program (SEP) with your family. SEP is an academically challenging program with an emphasis on inquiry-based learning. The program is not meant to replace the regular school curriculum; rather, it recognizes the importance of allowing able children to explore additional specialized areas of science, mathematics, humanities, and the arts. There are fall virtual courses available in the areas of engineering, music, STEM, coding, writing, social science, and many more. Visit the website or view the flyerfor more information and to register.
Stay curious.
Remember, engineering is everywhere you look.
💕 Mrs. Pamela Hall