Libertyville first grade students make boats to celebrate STEM week
First-graders designed boats that would float in water while carrying passengers - little plastic monkeys, to be exact - as part of STEM Week activities Wednesday at Adler Park School in Libertyville.
About 40 students participated in experiments designed to pique their interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, better known as STEM.
"The first-graders at Adler Park School were having a great time designing engineered boats after we read 'Curious George,'" teacher Emily Maki said.
Some of the ides put into action this week came from the Phil Mickelson ExxonMobil Teachers Academy Maki attended last summer in Jersey City, New Jersey.
The children carefully assembled boats using cardboard, aluminum foil, pipe cleaners, yarn, tape and Popsicle sticks, and then cheered as their creations floated with five little plastic monkeys aboard.
"It was kind of cool how we learned if water would get in there, if it would sink or it would stay up there and float," Anya Baker said after making her boat of aluminum foil, yarn and Popsicle sticks.
Other grades worked on designing gingerbread man traps, examining pendulums, and working with cars powered by Alka-Seltzer.