Challenged to make a newspaper chair that could hold the weight of an adult for at least 30 seconds, Dunham fourth graders went to work in the school’s Innovation Lab.
Students worked in teams, with each group employing the engineering design process to create their idea and then bring it to life using unlimited newspaper and one roll of masking tape. Middle School science teacher Ed Van Haute served as judges for the challenge, directed by 4th grade science teacher Valerie Jaques and Director of Innovation and Technology Nikole Blanchard.
The winning design for the most stable chair, created by the team of Noah Anders, Lauryn Bellizaire and Faith Gardner, easily supported Van Haute’s weight for 30 seconds. The second place chair, built by the team of Tristen Ebbs, William Reier, Madison Sizer and Emily Weiner, also held the judge’s weight for 30 seconds. The chair designed by the team of Lukin Kelley, Alex Gustafson, Robin Soltau and Foster Yan-Hamby received Honorable Mention with most design points earned.
