Stack'em Up: An Introduction to Engineering

In today's teamwork challenge, students were introduced to engineering by working in teams of 3-4 to solve a problem WITHOUT talking. Each group created a tool using string and a rubber band that was used to stack a group of cups into a pyramid. 

Team members must work cooperatively to: 

• Pull their strings to expand the rubber band 

• Lower the rubber band around a cup 

• Release the string so that the rubber band grabs the cup 

• Pick up the cup to stack it

Through some frustration, hard work, and dedication the challenge can be completed!

This was the group to complete the challenge first. Way to go!


In the end, students learned that teamwork makes tasks easier when you all pull together, it increases perseverance, and builds cooperation along with communication skills.

What an great way to start the new year!

Saving Fred!

Saving Fred is a creative problem-solving activity using a gummy worm, life saver, a cup, and some paperclips. 

The Story: Fred has been spending his summer boating on the Great Lakes. But he’s not too bright (after all, the brains of worms are pretty small). He’s never learned how to swim and he never wears his life preserver. The worst has happened! His boat has capsized and he’s stuck! Fortunately, his life preserver is in the boat, but unfortunately he does not know how to reach it without falling off and drowning. Source

Problem: How can you and your partner save Fred using only 2 paper clips? You may not touch Fred, the boat, or the life preserver directly with your hands! 

The Rules: 

• Fred may not fall into the sea (table) more than one time. If he does, he drowns.
• You may not injure Fred in any way - Poor Fred.
• You may use only 2 paper clips to move Fred, the boat, and the life preserver. You may not touch anything except the paper clips.

We paired up with students from the 5th grade class to test our life-saving skills.

 The great news was that we came up with loads of different methods to save Fred.

 Remarkably, some of the groups came up with a process within minutes. 

The goal was to use teamwork and cooperation to figure out how to save Fred. Everyone was able to find at least two ways to save him which means, lots of Fred's got to carrying on with their boating excursions. 

Science Fair

At Seabury School science fair is the place to be! 

We love it!

It's an amazing opportunity for our students to show off all of their amazing learning, presentation skills, and vibrant personalities. We get to see them at their very best.

Each year, students prepare for the science fair by making a plan to have have a project with an experiment that provides results.

Students have learned how important it is to start with a question and to make a prediction or hypothesis and a PLAN before starting work on their experiment.

Catherine found out which food coloring looks the most vibrant in different liquids!

Enzo did a simulation about Stardust

The 5 second rule! Gross!

Will objects float or sink?

Ryver discovered how to grow crystals!

Trevin figured out which type of sugar people like better.

What do our lungs look like if we have been a smoker?

Minute to Win it!

What a fun way to celebrate Valentine's Day by working on 21st century skill development by competing in Minute to Win it games!

Students used creative thinking and problem solving skills to achieve the highest score when completing a challenge for 1 minute. 

Two of the challenges were to stack as many candy hearts as you can. One type of heart candy was smaller than the other.

Another challenge was a race to get as many candy hearts to the cup as possible using a spoon.

The next challenge was to throw mini marshmallows into a bowl. 

The last challenge was to use chopsticks to move skittles into a cup.

Students completed these challenges twice and every child received a higher score the second time around. 

Creative thinking skills come in handy when solving these types of problems. Each child also has to think on the fly to solve the problem.