Bayport-Blue Point Students Build Historic Homes In Thanksgiving STEAM Project

BAYPORT, NY — Fourth graders in Bayport-Blue Point’s Gifted and Talented Program put their research and engineering skills to the test during a hands-on Thanksgiving-themed STEAM challenge at Blue Point Elementary School.

The activity, led by teacher and librarian Ellen Vlachos, began with students studying the daily lives of Pilgrims and Wampanoag Native Americans — including the tools they used, the foods they ate, and the similarities and differences between the two groups.

After completing their research, students were challenged to design and build model homes representing each culture. One team created a wetu, a traditional Wampanoag home large enough to fit two people, while another team engineered a Pilgrim house.

Before construction, students drafted written plans and labeled sketches of their designs. All groups worked with the same set of materials — including popsicle sticks, pipe cleaners, construction paper, cardboard, tape, and straws — encouraging collaboration and creative problem-solving.

When their structures were complete, students presented their finished designs, explained their choices, and reflected on the project by answering questions such as, “How successful were you in meeting the challenge?” and “What improvements would you make next time?”

The Thanksgiving-inspired activity blended research, engineering, teamwork, and creativity, giving students an opportunity to explore history through a modern STEAM lens.