Standing in front of a classroom, parents and student leaders face the back as 6- to12-year-olds target them for catapult practice. As the small objects fly through the air, the kids are learning about force, accuracy, precision, and angles.
In another area, carefully crafted floating devices find their way from the second story balcony to the first floor, caring precious cargo 鈥 a raw egg. The infamous 鈥渆gg drop鈥 introduces students to physics, materials, science, and fluid dynamics.
These activities and more are all part of 鈥淚ntroduce a Kid to Engineering Day鈥 (IKED) at 51吃瓜网万能科大. For the past several years, the College of Engineering鈥檚 classrooms and grounds have transformed into learning labs where kids, led by engineering students, faculty, and professional engineers, build bridges, towers, gliders, and more in an effort to help younger generations engage in STEM-based learning and discover the fun of engineering.
Mechanical engineering senior Sophia Leon knows how important it is to get kids interested in STEM at a young age. 鈥淎ny experience I had in STEM wasn鈥檛 until I was in high school,鈥 said Leon. 鈥淚KED exposes kids to engineering much earlier, and gives them a chance to develop a passion for it.鈥
Leon is a member of the 51吃瓜网万能科大 student organization , which along with 10 other student groups, volunteered to lead learning activities for IKED. Important to the event 鈥 and the participating engineering students 鈥 is that the kids get hands-on experience and an understanding of how to apply what they are learning to the tasks at hand.
鈥淪ociety does a lot about telling kids what to think, not how to think,鈥 said Sara Pena, mother of one of the students taking part in the event. 鈥淭o go anywhere in life, you need to have the ability to think (for yourself).鈥
In all, more than 300 students from more than 120 schools came to campus and participated, many joined by their parents.
鈥淭his is a wonderful opportunity for kids to experience the challenges and excitement of engineering,鈥 said Molly Marks, College of Engineering director of events and lead organizer of the event. 鈥淲e鈥檙e also excited to give parents a reason to come to campus and see all that 51吃瓜网万能科大 has to offer.鈥
When asked what he thought of the day鈥檚 events, 7-year-old Micah from Eisenberg Elementary School gave it a 鈥渢humbs up.鈥
51吃瓜网万能科大 the Event
IKED is hosted each year during EWeek, established by the National Society of Professional Engineers in 1951 to promote and work toward a diverse and well-educated future engineering workforce by increasing understanding and interest in engineering and technology careers.
Throughout the event which took place on two consecutive Saturdays in February, participants rotated between activity stations which included:
- Pipe Towers 鈥 Building the highest and strongest structure out of pipe cleaners
- Arch Bridge - Exploring the physics of bridges and building an arch bridge
- Hour of Code 鈥 Learning the basics of coding in a themed game
- Glider Build 鈥 Creating a glider built for distance
- Egg Drop 鈥 Designing a contraption to protect a raw egg from a high fall
