San Angelo ISD Students Engineer Thanksgiving Delight

SAN ANGELO - Throughout the month of November, San Angelo ISD students participated in a variety of engineering lessons in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) labs which took students “out of the ordinary,” challenged their critical thinking skills and “let creativity soar.”

The school district stated that at Glenmore Elementary, in the spirit of gratitude for the Thanksgiving season,  kindergarten students worked to engineer the “ultimate turkey trap.”

Using a variety of materials including KEVA Planks, Strawbees and Magna Tiles, these students used innovation to look at the many possible ways they could catch their turkey by experimenting with different structures to bring their visions to life, according to the school district.

Additionally, students had to utilize their communication skills, explaining the inner workings of their traps. 

Glenmore STEM teacher Veronica Wiley also guided their strategy with reflective questions which sparked adjustments and improvements.

Meanwhile, the 4th graders at Santa Rita took on the challenge of crafting balloon floats fit for the annual Thanksgiving Macy’s Day Parade. 

“Each balloon inspired students to show their individuality, showcasing the unique creativity of every student,” the school district stated. “Through trial and error, these resilient minds learned to design structures that could handle the parade's hustle and bustle.” 

To elevate the STEM experience, students filmed their final designs against a green screen to place their floats into the streets of New York. 

“San Angelo ISD is committed to providing our students with opportunities to explore areas of science, technology, engineering and math through our innovative STEM programs available to students at all levels,” SAISD stated. “Our STEM labs offer students hands-on, collaborative, learning experiences that challenge students to think critically through various design challenges and explore subjects such as applied engineering or flight technology in interactive and meaningful ways.”

Opportunities for students to explore STEM don’t stop at the elementary and middle school levels. 

SAISD high school students can choose to follow the STEM program of study within the districts Career and Technical Education (CTE) program which offers courses focused around engineering to support “their individual hopes and dreams.” 

For more information, visit saisd.org.