Elementary students across the Penn-Trafford School District recently participated in a hands-on STEAM activity known as “Junk Box Wars.” The monthly activity challenges students to incorporate science, technology, engineering, art, and math into creative problem-solving experiences using everyday materials.
A favorite among students and teachers alike, Junk Box Wars encourages teamwork, innovation, and critical thinking. Students from kindergarten through fifth grade pair up and receive a design challenge and a bag of miscellaneous "junk".
April’s Junkbox War was called ‘Basket Builder Buddies’. For this task, students were asked to construct an Easter basket that could be worn on their heads. The baskets had to be sturdy enough to hold eggs while students raced to the finish line without letting the contents spill. The students were given cardstock, paper, pipe cleaners, a small roll of tape, paper clips, cotton balls, rubber bands, and popsicle sticks to complete the challenge.
The activity not only brought laughter and teamwork into the classrooms but also helped reinforce engineering concepts like balance, structure, and design.
Winners were named from each grade level, and the students enjoyed the educational and interactive project.
Trafford 4th-graders Ava Reilly and Ryleigh Harrison collaborate on their junkbox projects
Harrison Park 5th-graders Thade Comer and Bryce Leith
Level Green 3rd-grader Juliet Briscoe models her egg basket
McCullough 3rd-graders Alana Supancic and Meadow Lawther wear their baskets
Sunrise 2nd-graders Piper Herbert and Julianna Clark show off their Junkbox medals