In a fifth grade STEAM project, students were tasked by teacher Sara Fisher with designing a creative Mini Golf hole using specified materials and integrating four distinct obstacles to challenge the players. The constraints were to include obstacles featuring an acute angle, a right angle and a polygon of their choice, with a fourth obstacle having no specific shape requirement. Additionally, the course length was limited to 36 inches, obstacles could not exceed 12 inches in height if three dimensional, and they had to also construct a putter.
One challenge might be managing the limited quantity and variety of materials to create effective and diverse obstacles. For instance, ensuring stability and functionality with only glue sticks and tape could be tricky, especially for 3D structures. Another difficulty could be designing obstacles that are challenging yet doable, keeping in mind the physics of a ping pong ball’s movement.
“This hands-on project not only fosters creativity and problem-solving but also involves critical thinking about geometric concepts and material properties, making it a comprehensive educational activity,” Ms. Fisher said.
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Date Added: 5/22/2024