Prior to the Thanksgiving break, students in Susan Picini’s class at Smithtown Elementary School in the Smithtown Central School District engaged in STEM-based activities, working in groups to design, build and test Mayflower ships.
The students created a blueprint, listed materials and built their ships. They tested to see if the ship was able to float and how many “pilgrims” their ship could hold without capsizing. They problem-solved to redesign and alter their ships if needed.
The students used words such as buoyancy, capsize, vessel, and weight to describe their process. Finally, the groups reflected on their designs through discussion and writing.
Photos courtesy of Smithtown Central School District
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