Science on Wheels at Highlands Elementary

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Through a teacher grant fulfilled by the Renton Schools Foundation, students of Highlands Elementary school experienced the Pacific Science Center’s “Science on Wheels” program. This program engaged students of all grades in engineering fields through in-class lessons, a museum exhibit, and a school wide assembly.

In classrooms, students participated in a bridge-building lesson that required them to plan, test, and revise bridges made from K’NEX blocks, measuring durability using a Newton scale. In other classes, students explored robotic coding and electrical engineering with circuit design.

The museum exhibit involved hands-on engineering activities including building a marble run, creating an arch out of blocks without any supports, putting cogs together, and several other projects while also learning about diverse engineers in the real world.

In addition to the exhibit, the assembly reinforced concepts taught in the classroom. Students had the opportunity to create arches and redesign a rocket experiment.

Opportunities like these not only teach students valuable skills they can apply to their learning, but also inspire curiosity in STEM and ignite their passion through hands-on lessons that bring learning to life.

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