The table was lava, the rubber ducks needed rescuing and Lakeview Elementary’s first graders were ready to engineer a way to save them.
During a recent STEAM lesson with teacher Jennifer Borst, students were given a simple but challenging mission: rescue as many rubber ducks as possible from a table covered in “hot lava,” using only the materials provided. There was no single solution, students had to figure out how to build a structure that could reach the ducks while remaining strong and stable.
As students tested their ideas, they quickly discovered that some designs worked better than others. They made adjustments, tried again and learned how the shape and structure of their designs could affect the outcome.
“We introduced an important engineering lesson to our students, that triangles provide a strong, stable base for construction,” Borst said. “I am always impressed with how quickly our young students learn these concepts and embrace their role as engineers.”
The rubber duck rescue gave students an early opportunity to experience what engineers do every day: face a problem, develop an idea, test it and figure out how to make it work better. For these first graders, it was a playful introduction to a process they will continue building on throughout their STEAM experiences.
