The 6th-grade girls took center
stage in a cosmic challenge
inspired by their year-long
study of astronomy. The task:
engineer a parachute capable
of safely transporting an egg
through the stratosphere,
mimicking the techniques
employed in space landings.
Eager students stood by open
windows on the third floor,
ready to send their parachutes
and eggs hurtling through the
air. The crowd gathered in the
playground below. A mix of
students, teachers, and visitors
turned their eyes skyward.
Flying eggs? At TA? Absolutely!
The spirit of scientific
exploration reaches its zenith
each year at TA’s annual
STEM (Science, Technology,
Engineering, Math) Fair Design
Challenges. These challenges
empower students to explore
autonomously, seamlessly
integrating with their grade-
specific science curriculum.
The hands-on learning
experience not only breathes
life into STEM subjects but
also serves as a platform to
spotlight the exceptional
ingenuity and determination of
the participating students.
The eggs launched one at a
time as the crowd cheered.
The wind carried the delicate
contraptions through the
air, some gracefully gliding
down to safety, while others
embarked on a more dramatic
descent, plummeting to the
pavement below. Laughter and
camaraderie filled the air as the
girls marveled at the varying
degrees of success.
Next, the 7th and 8th grade girls,
having studied earth science
throughout the year, faced a
different challenge. Mrs. Leah
Ochs presented them with
the task of engineering an
earthquake-resistant structure
using dry spaghetti, wood and
cardboard. Students learned
about the engineering design
process (first designing, then
testing and redesigning) before
spending weeks building and
refining their projects.
At the thrilling STEM Challenge
climax, the structures were
subjected to 30 seconds of
vigorous tremors on a shake
table. The spectacle unfolded
before the captivated audience,
showcasing the resilience of
some structures that stood firm,
while others succumbed to the
relentless shaking.
Later in the day, an air of
excitement and anticipation
filled the Williston building
as the boys’ division gathered
for their challenge. Mr. Nate
Berman, the dynamic science
teacher, had set the stage for
an engineering showdown
between teams of 7th and 8th
grade boys.
The challenge was clear: which
team’s bridge could hold the
most weight? Using only 50
sticks of balsa wood and a mere
4 ounces of glue, the seven
teams had arrived at a variety
of creative solutions. The
lunchroom buzzed with the
hum of eager students ready to
see which team would prevail.
3
From Cosmos to Quakes
Middle Schoolers Shine in their STEM Fair Challenges
Students spent weeks creating their
projects using the engineering design
process, designing, testing, and redesigning
their structures.
MAKE IT
BETTER
DESIGN
IT
CREATE
IT
TEST
IT
ENGENEERING
DESIGN
PROCESS
