On Friday, August 22nd, sixth-grade students in Ms. Holyfield and Ms. Reed’s science classes stepped into the world of engineering with a fun and engaging STEM Design Challenge - building the tallest freestanding Index Card Skyscraper using only 3x5 index cards. With a focus on creativity, problem-solving, and hands-on learning, students were challenged to design and construct a structure that could stand independently without any external support.
Working in teams, students used principles of design and structural engineering to plan, test, and revise their ideas. They explored how balance, weight distribution, and card manipulation (bending, folding, or cutting) could affect the stability and height of their towers. The classroom buzzed with collaboration as students analyzed what worked, and what didn’t, through trial and error. This challenge not only reinforced scientific principles but also built confidence and resilience through iterative design.
