Harnessing creativity in STEAM
A group of Grade Six students are heading to the Global Finals of the Engineering Challenge in the USA.
A group of Grade Six students from ACS Egham are heading to the Global Finals of the Engineering Challenge in the USA after being crowned UK champions in a national STEAM competition, Destination Imagination UK, back in March.
Destination Imagination is a global community united by the belief that when students have the freedom to grow and collaborate, their confidence explodes, and the world opens up to them in new ways. The project aims to inspire young people to become creative and collaborative leaders. The organisation provides STEAM programmes and challenges for students across a range of different ages.
THE SKILLS THEY HAVE GAINED, SUCH AS CREATIVE AND CRITICAL THINKING, COLLABORATION AND PROBLEM SOLVING, ARE INVALUABLE
As part of the Engineering Challenge, ACS Egham’s student team built the longest roller coaster (over six meters) with limited materials.
The aim of the challenge was to make a golf ball roll down the coaster as fast and controlled as possible. Our team achieved the fastest overall speed, with the golf ball taking just seven seconds from start to finish.
Our students had a wonderful time at the competition, and I am so proud of our students for their success. I wish them all the best as they travel to Kansas City in the USA this month to compete against the top teams from around the world in the Global Finals. No matter the outcome, the skills they have gained, such as creative and critical thinking, collaboration and problem solving, are invaluable. These will help them feel empowered and stand ready for a future full of opportunity – and we hope to see even more students from ACS take up the opportunity next year!
John Mendehall is a Science Teacher at ACS International School Egham
