Engineering Curiosity, Creativity, and Courage at Wesley Christian Academy
From April 27 to May 1, Wesley Christian Academy proudly hosted its second annual STEM Week, a school wide celebration of innovation, problem solving, and hands-on discovery. Throughout the week, every elementary student (from Grade 1 through Grade 8) stepped into the role of an engineer, applying scientific thinking and creative design to tackle real world inspired challenges.
This year’s theme centred on the Engineering Design Process, a structured yet flexible cycle used by engineers around the world. Students learned to ask questions, imagine possibilities, plan strategically, create prototypes, test their ideas, and improve their designs based on results. This iterative process helped students understand that engineering is not about perfection – it’s about
curiosity, resilience, and continuous improvement.
Engineering Challenges Across Grades
Each grade level engaged in a challenge tailored to their developmental stage, encouraging them to explore physics, forces, structures, motion, and mechanical systems that area applicable in real-world settings:
Grade 1:
Marble Run Twist and Turn: Using everyday household materials, students engineered the longest-running marble run possible. They experimented with slope, friction, and gravity as they tested and refined their designs.
Grade 2:
Toy Zip Line: Students designed secure carriers to transport their beloved stuffies across a classroom zip line! They explored stability, aerodynamics, and the importance of balanced weight distribution.
Grade 3:
Earthquake Resistant Structures: With marshmallows and toothpicks, students constructed buildings capable of withstanding simulated seismic activity. They discovered how geometric shapes (especially triangles) add strength and stability, and they also explored how a wide, well anchored base is essential for preventing a tower from toppling during vibrations.
Grade 4:
Floating Supply Boats: Students built boats that could float while carrying a load of supplies. They investigated buoyancy, displacement, and waterproofing as they optimized their vessels.
Grade 5:
Newspaper Towers: Tasked with building a tower strong enough to support a basketball, students explored compression, tension, and the power of structural reinforcement using only newspaper and tape.
Grade 6:
PropellerPowered Zip Line Vehicles: In partners, students engineered rapid acceleration vehicles powered by propellers, designed to travel at least 15 feet along a zip line. They experimented with propulsion, torque, and aerodynamic efficiency, and also engaged in rich discussions about thrust and drag (key concepts from their current flight unit in science) which helped them understand how air resistance and forward force influence speed and performance.
Grade 7:
Catapults and Energy Transfer: Students designed catapults capable of launching objects for maximum distance or precision. Through this challenge, they observed energy transfer, projectile motion, and the impact of design variables on performance.
Grade 8:
Hydraulic Machines: Our oldest students built hydraulic systems capable of performing specific tasks, applying principles of fluid pressure, mechanical advantage, and real world engineering applications. These were actually featured in a separate Glimpse Into A Classroom on May 18th!
A Week of Inquiry, Iteration, and Joy
Throughout the week, classrooms were alive with the energy of experimentation. Students sketched ideas, debated solutions, built prototypes, and – most importantly, returned to their plans again and again to refine their designs. They learned that engineering requires resilience, patience, and a willingness to learn from failure.
Watching students test their creations was a highlight of the week. Cheers erupted when a marble run lasted longer than expected, when a boat held more weight than predicted, or when a propeller vehicle shot down the zipline with surprising speed, smashing into the finish line! Even when designs didn’t work the first time, students showed remarkable motivation to improve upon them, demonstrating the true spirit of STEM learning.
We are incredibly proud of every student who participated in STEM Week. Their creativity, perseverance, and enthusiasm transformed our school into a vibrant hub of engineering exploration.
To see more of the students’ innovative creations and proud moments, please visit our Facebook page.
Here’s to nurturing the next generation of thinkers, builders, and problem solvers – our brilliant young engineers at Wesley Christian Academy!