Students Demonstrate Creative Engineering at Junior Engineers Showcase

On April 30, Oak Tree Elementary students participating in the Junior Engineers club held a showcase to demonstrate their recent engineering projects. The club provides students with opportunities to design and test prototypes intended to solve specific physical challenges. During the showcase, students presented their work and engaged in a series of live trials to evaluate the durability and functionality of their designs.

One specific challenge required students to design and build a device that could keep an apple balanced on their head while they ran through the school hallway. Each junior engineer developed a unique method for securing the apple, as dropping the object resulted in elimination from the trial. These projects required students to consider how to maintain stability during movement while using a limited set of construction materials.

The winning prototype was a custom cardboard contraption designed to cradle the apple and wrap securely around the student’s head. This design allowed the student to maintain a running pace without losing the apple. By testing their creations in a competitive environment, students observed firsthand how different structural choices impacted their results. 

Oak Tree Elementary is committed to providing a high-quality educational experience that introduces STEM at a young age. Between the Junior Engineers club and regular collaborations with Mesquite High School Engineering students, Oak Tree regularly incorporates STEM education in classrooms across all grades. To learn more about academics at Oak Tree, visit OakTree.GilbertSchools.net/Academics.