In Liz Castillo’s Design Technology and Engineering class, first graders explored how seesaws balance. The lesson opened with two videos – one of four real cars balancing on a man-made metal seesaw and the other of two children using planks and cinder blocks to create one. They discussed why one child stayed down while the other went up – the child was heavier with her backpack on. Students suggested solutions on how to balance: take off the backpack, add one to the other child or move closer to the middle, the pivot point.
With ideas fresh in their minds, the students built Lego seesaws using step-by-step instructions. With balance challenges, they tested where to place Lego block stacks, moved them in and out and added pieces to see how weight and position changed balance. Finally, they tackled the Super Seesaw Challenge, extending their designs creatively.
The project connected to Punahou’s learning outcomes: students practiced critical thinking and problem solving, showed creativity, explained ideas to each other and demonstrated perseverance when their seesaws didn’t balance at first.
Photos by Kathleen Connelly