Osseo Area Schools ISD 279: Zanewood Community: A STEAM School Partners With The Works Museum For A Virtual Engineering Night

Press release from the Osseo Area Schools ISD 279:

March 10, 2022

Zanewood Community: A STEAM School partnered with the Works Museum to offer a Virtual Engineering Night for scholars and families on March 8. The event was broken into four sessions for students to learn about Rube Goldeberg contraptions and paper machines.

Nearly 30 students in pre-kindergarten through second grade joined specialists from The Works Museum's session on Rube Goldberg contraptions. Rube Goldberg machines were designed to perform simple tasks through a chain reaction. Scholars learned what these machines were and spent time using household items to create simple machines.

When students got stumped on what to do with their projects, leaders and teachers provided advice on how to proceed. William Schar, STEM educator for The Works Museum recommended starting with the beginning or end of their project. He also provided examples of what other students had done in the past.

“It is okay to copy what others do. It is okay to follow what others have done. That’s what engineers do,” said Schar.

Schar shared how the best scientists and engineers get their ideas from others by learning about their research and following in their footsteps. Students worked with their families to take examples and expand their projects.

This also opened a door for students to express their creativity. One student used tape, paper tubes, and pipe cleaners at the start of their machine.

“I’m just trying to make something. It’s off to a great start,” the student opened up.

Find out more about The Works Museum

This press release was produced by the Osseo Area Schools ISD 279. The views expressed here are the author’s own.