Foothill Family Engineering Night

Recently our local elementary school has become a "STEAM" school, with the idea being that they invest more heavily in science, technology, engineering, arts and math activities. The sign on the front of the school "Every child deserves to be prepared for the 21st century" was really rubbing me the wrong way earlier in the school year when my child was really struggling in math and not getting the help at school that she needed.

However, things have improved in that area with more help being provided. And recently we went to a Family Engineering Night that was pretty fun. I wish more members of our family could have gone--but things were just too busy.

At Family Engineering Night, we picked a few stations and did the activity. The idea was to create a solution to an imaginary situation given a very few materials.

The first station was to build some kind of drawing bot using a small motor with a battery and a cup and eraser and markers.

The second station we visited had the problem of creating a vehicle to get across the desert using the materials from an old World War II era plane. In reality, we got a piece of paper, a few straws, some lifesavers and tape to create something that we could blow from the starting line to the finish line. I copied the design from a dad who looked like he knew what he was doing. Camille had a hard time blowing it herself so the teacher in charge helped her.

At the third station, we were running out of time so we didn't really have time to make it work. The goal was to make a hovercraft using an old CD, the top of a water bottle glued to the CD, and then a balloon mounted on top. The lid of the water bottle had a few holes in it. I'm still fuzzy on the concept and it only worked marginally.

My overall impression was that it was an enjoyable activity and definitely worthwhile. I wished it had been at a different time and lasted longer since there were several more stations we could have done. And we were rushed with the three we did so I felt like I had to do all the engineering. But I hope they do it again next year.

Comments

Our Cousin Drew

This last week, my brother and his wife lost a very precious son, just 13 years old. He collapsed while running with a cross-country team and passed away before he could be revived. Everyone that knew Drew is broken-hearted at this loss. He was the happiest, most agreeable kid we knew. I remember him being at my house without anyone close to his age to hang out with, so he found our Duplo blocks and started building even though it is a toy that boys his age don't usually enjoy. He was so content. He didn't complain that I ever remember. His mother always called him the perfect child. He will leave a big hole in not only his immediate family but our extended family as well. Here is a poem my aunt shared that seems fitting: Leave Taking How I would have liked to wave goodbye and watch until you turned and smiled and disappeared on the horizon. You who taught me to dance and let me teach you, who laughed at my stories and winked at me when I was sad. I can just see you trav

Remembering Drew

This weekend we celebrated Drew's life. On Thursday night, we gathered as an extended family and had a dinner then sat in a big circle and talked about our memories of him. I took some notes and here is what people said. Grandpa (Gary Hansen): The last time we saw Drew was last week on the 4th. I remember all the cousins on the trampoline, bouncing up and down and playing basketball. Grandma (Susan Hansen): I asked Drew to come over last winter to teach my Activity Day boys how to make origami stars. He was very patient in working with them even though they were pretty clueless. Eventually they all went home happily with their stars. Paula: This last winter we invited Bruce and Michelle over for dinner and we didn't have anyone his age for him to hang out with. I remember that Drew found the Duplo blocks on his own and played with them all by himself, quite cheerfully entertaining himself. I asked him if he wanted to play with a different toy--maybe something more sophistica

Drew's Funeral

Yesterday was the viewing for Drew and then today was the funeral. There were a LOT of people at the viewing. Bruce and Michelle greeted people for almost four hours yesterday and then again this morning before the funeral. Bruce said that if weren't for Drew's death, it would be the best week of his life with so much love being shown to them. Friday actually began with a family run in Drew's honor. We started at a church by the new Lindon temple and ran to Bruce and Michelle's house with breakfast following. Friday night was the viewing. There was a very nice display of all things Drew. This was one of the pictures displayed and I recognized someone I know: We stood in line and the paramedics who worked on Drew stood in line behind us so we got to talk to them. Here's a fun fact: They cover both Orem and Vineyard but Vineyard gets a lot more 911 calls than Orem per capita. It's a younger population and they are quicker to call. They said it's hard when the

Search This Blog