The elementary schools of the Penn-Trafford School District regularly host hands-on STEAM projects known as Junk Box Wars, designed to engage students in creative problem-solving.
STEAM lessons integrate science, technology, engineering, art, and math into a single learning experience. During Junk Box Wars, students in kindergarten through fifth grade work with a partner to tackle a design challenge using a bag of assorted materials. The goal is to apply scientific thinking and creativity to design a device that completes a specific task.
February’s challenge, titled the Cupid Bow Challenge, asked students to design and build their own bow and arrow, then test how far their arrow could travel. “Some teams went a few inches, and some glided clean across the room,” said Mr. Brundrett of Harrison Park Elementary.
Winners were named from each grade level, and the students enjoyed the educational and interactive project.
Harrison Park Elementary fourth-grader Miles Wilson launches an arrow
Ronan Bair and Sullivan Novicki were the winners from Mr. Spudy’s third-grade class at Sunrise Elementary
Level Green Elementary first-graders Natalia Simon and Gabi Waters earned medals for their bow and arrow design
Izzy DiBernardo of Trafford Elementary tests her bow and arrow
McCullough Elementary first-graders Jamisyn Float, Julia Brown, Ava Splendore, and Joey Stank
Sunrise Elementary first-graders Sullivan Frame and Juliet Shaffer work together to build their bow and arrow
Harrison Park fifth-graders, Ryan Weishaar and Luke Lyons, test out their bow and arrow
Level Green Elementary third-graders Ezra Bell and Carter Capets earned medals for their project
McCullough Elementary fourth-graders Leona Dakan, Hannah Langford, Alex McCormack, and (back) Jace Gamble with their completed Junkbox projects
Tia Parasky, Declan Bost, and Fatih Cengiz of Trafford Elementary build their bow and arrow