Who knew cardboard was so useful? The Sussex Avenue School

Sussex Avenue School student with her cardboard maze, May 2019. Photo courtesy of Christine Kelly
Sussex Avenue School student with her cardboard maze, May 2019. Photo courtesy of Christine Kelly
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From the Sussex Avenue School:

The Sussex Avenue School’s first annual Cardboard Challenge took place in the gymnasium earlier this month.

For three months, during technology class, for one class period during a six-day cycle, 5th grade students worked in partnerships or small groups to build a cardboard arcade game.

The purpose of the project was to provide an opportunity for 5th grade students to participate in a project-based STEM activity where 21st century skills are utilized.

These are skills that students need to be familiar with as they move through school and ultimately enter the working world.

They include critical thinking, resourcefulness, perseverance, collaboration and cooperation.

Prior to building their games, media specialist Christine Kelly taught the students about the engineering design process, a series of steps engineers follow to come up with a solution to a problem.

The solution involves designing a product that meets the criteria of the task that students are asked to accomplish.

Although cardboard is not high-tech, it is cost-effective and allows students to work through the design process by researching, designing, creating, and testing.

If students make a mistake and need to rebuild, there is always more cardboard available.

Once the projects were completed, the 5th grade students hosted a cardboard arcade event for 1st- through 3rd graders during an afternoon in the gym, and then again on a different day for 4th graders.

All in all, the students had a blast and it was a great success! When the school community can come together for a day for play activity, everyone wins.

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