Innovation and imagination were front and center as students at Park Avenue Elementary School participated in the Raingutter Regatta. The STEAM activity was a partnership between first and fifth grade classes.

Throughout the year, first graders participated in several building challenges, while fifth graders completed numerous scientific investigations. They came together to indulge their curiosities by building and testing boats.

During three sessions, first graders worked with their fifth grade buddies to design and construct a boat. Supplies included pool noodles, plastic cups, wooden sticks, straws, duct tape, rubber bands and paper. On May 20, students from Patricia Assande’s and Alexa Laskowitz’s first grade classes met up with their fifth grade friends in Mary Berry’s and Jenna Stack’s classes for some friendly competition.

The Raingutter Regatta, a Boy Scout-inspired activity, featured inflatable tracks filled with water. Two groups faced off at a time, using the wind power from large fans to push the boats down the tracks. The competitions kept going until one group emerged as the winners. Throughout the process, students studied scientific concepts such as buoyancy, energy and force.