Fifth and sixth graders completed units in the Sidney Central School District’s new maker space area earlier this winter. Students in both grades brainstormed to identify something in the school that they felt needed to be improved or developed.
In the sixth grade, the most popular ideas to be developed were that students would like physical education every day, and they wanted some changes for school lunches. Students chose which idea they wanted to pursue, and formed construction companies to develop their ideas.
Teams had to complete purchase orders for the supplies needed to build models of the health center and cafeteria options. Students also had to purchase supplies and rent tools to build the models, and work to provide an iMovie trailer to pitch their products.
In final presentations, students presented their sales pitch, shared the selling price, and waited to find out whose company won the bid.
Many realistic discussions came out of the project, including strategies to be the company with the best products and the lowest price, all while still being able to repay the debt of the supply costs that had been accumulated.
Incentives were given for companies who chose to use recycled items.
Students had great participation and worked to improve skills, such as time management, working with constraints, and teamwork.
For a gallery of photos, please see below.