Harrison Park Elementary School conducts monthly STEAM projects called “Junk Box Wars.”
STEAM activities incorporate science, technology, engineering, art, and math into one lesson. The Junk Box Wars projects encourage students to use their scientific knowledge to create and design a device. Students in kindergarten through fifth-grade work with a partner and are given a design challenge and a bag of “junk” to create a device that solves a specified task.
February’s Junkbox War was called ‘Cupid’s Bow,’ and was spearheaded by Super Substitute Teacher, Mr. Michael Barnes. Students had the task of building a bow that would knock over the most cups. Each group of students received a bag containing rubber bands, tongue depressors, cotton swabs, notecards, pipe cleaners, straws, a dowel rod, and a roll of tape.
Winners were named from each grade level, and the students enjoyed the educational and interactive project.
3rd-graders Lucas Antonucci and Greyson Koloski build their bow
3rd-graders Kaylee Jackson and Emilia Migitsch discuss plans for their bow and arrow
3rd-graders Griffin Mutzabaugh and Forrest Rasel designing their project
3rd-graders Adedewa Adedimila and Abby Strasser finish building their arrow
Kindergarteners Bella Lutz and Ikel Kroll create their bow and arrow
Kindergarten student Alex Karas practices with his bow and arrow