Students create Thanksgiving float models
Students at McQuistion Elementary School celebrated the upcoming holiday on Tuesday by creating Thanksgiving float models.
Kindergarten through fourth grade classes were encouraged to use boxes, ribbons, jugs, construction paper, glitter and other recycled materials as part of the STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) activity.
The students came up with a variety of themes for their floats, including Thanksgiving, “Under the Sea” and Christmas.
According to Megan Erb, STEAM support at McQuistion, the design process used to create the floats used skills students were taught in the classroom.
“(They're) using the engineering design process to create their float,” Erb said. “Once they move on from the planning process into constructing their design, they will have to revise and problem-solve as they see their plans come to life.”In all classrooms, students chattered and bustled about with armfuls of craft supplies, fixing their floats by collaborating with their teammates.In third-grade teacher Brady Bandura's classroom, students brainstormed ideas about their float's theme before breaking into groups of two or three.
After establishing an allotted time frame for each phase of the float's construction, they were given design sheets to list their desired decorating materials and space for a sketch of their design.Bandura said having his class choose their groups helped with collaboration efforts.
“Since they have the same goal, they're all willing to work on it,” Bandura said. “(They've) been really independent.”“Kids who don't always succeed, you find really thrive in these activities,” Erb said.In one fourth-grade classroom, students Lian, Lydia and Avery constructed a large turkey with a pilgrim's hat as part of their float. They said the process only took 30 minutes, and they wanted to do the project again.“The turkey head was the hardest part to make,” Avery said. “I liked making the design the best.”
Their teacher, Annie Tigano, said her students are using all subjects to aid in the completion of the project.“They're measuring, they're designing, they're using everything they learn,” Tigano said.Third-grade student Willow and her team designed a Thanksgiving table float, complete with googly eyes, stickers and hand drawings of the food included in the Thanksgiving meal.“It's fun because you get to decorate,” Willow said. “I think that's my favorite part.”At the day's end, Erb said more than 15 floats will be on display in the gym for classrooms to walk around and observe.She said she hopes to implement more STEAM projects like this into the future curriculum. The next project will be the creation of a zoo exhibit.“I believe that the greatest skill students (gain) from this experience is their ability to collaborate with one another,” Erb said.
