Schools
Valley Stream 24 Sixth-Grade Students Bring Ancient Civilizations to Life Through STEAM
Students designed and built functional marble runs inspired by ancient Mesopotamian ziggurats
Students in Mrs. Naomi Rashad’s sixth-grade departmentalized social studies class at the Valley Stream 24 School District recently participated in an engaging interdisciplinary enrichment lesson in collaboration with Art Teacher Ms. Leighanne Jaronczyk and ENL teacher Mrs. Vivian Ramirez. The hands-on project challenged students to design and build functional marble runs inspired by ancient Mesopotamian ziggurats using everyday materials.
As part of their social studies curriculum, students explored early Mesopotamian civilizations and examined the historical significance of ziggurats as stepped pyramids. They then applied this knowledge in a creative, real-world context by constructing ziggurat-themed marble runs that required careful planning, engineering, and problem solving.
Working collaboratively, students tested and refined their designs to ensure marbles successfully traveled through a series of ramps, turns and obstacles. The project emphasized key STEAM concepts, including physics, structural design, iteration, and teamwork, while reinforcing core historical content.
This interdisciplinary lesson exemplifies how student-centered, creative learning experiences can deepen content knowledge and foster critical thinking. The Valley Stream 24 School District commends Ms. Jaronczyk for partnering with Mrs. Rashad and Mrs. Ramirez to provide students with engaging and enriching opportunities that bring history to life through STEAM-based instruction.
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