Sep. 24, 2019 -- Amy Statler’s engineering and design classes use a great variety of tools and materials such as scissors, tape, hot glue guns, drills, cardboard, wood scraps, old PVC piping, screwdrivers, hammers, and nails. When the Project Lead the Way teacher moved into her new classroom at Roxboro Middle School, she was faced with the challenge of finding a place to store all of her class materials. So Statler did what most good teachers would have done and turned her challenge into a classroom project.
Statler’s 7th and 8th grade classes worked in teams of three to four students to take inventory of the supplies and available space. Students then designed and created functional storage and seating options. Statler feels that this lesson allowed students to feel more ownership over the classroom space, while also learning to apply valuable measurement skills.
According to Statler, “Students were given a menu of eight options to solve a "problem" in the classroom. All options required measurement; from length and width to circumference and area. Students were challenged with covering bulletin boards with a piece of provided vinyl to design a way to store and display frequently-needed tools on a pegboard. Some students worked on upcycling discarded wire spools into a double-decker lazy susan with hooks for supplies. Others created a cover insert for the classroom sinks to create additional workspace. One group of 8th graders built a rack to store binders and student belongings when they enter the classroom.”
Once complete, student groups presented their creations and reflected on the entire process. Students identified the challenges they faced as well as what they might do differently next time. Statler believes that failure is an excellent teaching strategy: “I enjoy seeing students put it all on the line and not be afraid to fail. This is indeed when we learn the most—when we become vulnerable.”
