Girl Scouts and National Engineering Week
March 04, 2024
Denishea Williams is the Troop Leader for two of our Girl Scouts at School troops and she shared with us their experience during National Engineering Week:
This week during Girl Scout Engineering Week, Troop 9471 and 9429 embarked on an epic journey into the world of engineering, and let me tell you, it was tasty! We kicked things off by building bridges using toothpicks and candy dots, learning about the forces that keep structures standing strong. It was amazing to see how a handful of simple materials could come together to create something so sturdy and impressive.
Then, we delved into the world of coding with s'mores—yes, you heard that right! We used graham crackers, chocolate, and marshmallows to represent different commands and variables, programming our tasty treats to perform different tasks. It was a deliciously fun way to learn about the basics of programming and algorithms.
And finally, we put our engineering skills to the test by building catapults out of everyday items like popsicle sticks and rubber bands. We experimented with different designs and angles, learning firsthand about projectile motion and the importance of precision in engineering. Overall, this week was a whirlwind of creativity, problem-solving, and, of course, plenty of tasty treats.
Our favorite engineering activity during Girl Scout Engineering Week
was definitely building bridges. There was something incredibly
satisfying about taking a bunch of simple materials like toothpicks
and candy dots and transforming them into a sturdy structure that
could support weight. Our girls enjoyed it for several reasons.
Firstly, it was a hands-on activity that allowed them to see the
principles of engineering in action. They got to learn about the
forces at play in bridge construction, like tension and compression,
and how engineers use these principles to design safe and reliable
structures.
Secondly, it was a collaborative experience. Working together with their fellow Girl Scouts, we brainstormed ideas, shared techniques, and helped each other troubleshoot when things didn't go according to plan. It was a great opportunity to practice teamwork and communication skills while having a lot of fun.
Lastly, seeing the finished bridges standing strong was incredibly rewarding. It was a tangible reminder of what we could achieve when we put our minds to it and applied our engineering knowledge creatively. Plus, knowing that we had built something that could actually hold weight gave me a real sense of accomplishment. Overall, building bridges was a fantastic engineering activity that combined learning, teamwork, and hands-on fun in the best possible way.
