As part of the fairy tale unit, the first grade read “The Three Little Pigs” and then the children were challenged with building a house that could stand up to the big, bad blow dryer. Students first spoke about the houses that the pigs built out of straw, sticks and bricks. They discussed which was the strongest house and why. The first graders were then given materials to build their houses. The children followed the scientific method. They made a plan, and tried to execute their vision. As engineers, the children had to work with a partner to make decisions and to build a strong structure while evaluating the materials given. They were asked to use rulers to measure and write down their results. They made predictions as to whether their structure would stand up to the big, bad blow dryer. The children loved chanting along with the big, bad blow dryer, “I’m going to huff and puff and blow your house down!” This STEAM challenge perfectly integrated science, technology, engineering, arts, and math truly showcasing the innovative curriculum offered at Academies @ GBDS. To learn about Academies @ GBDS and to schedule a tour, contact Lina Shuster at 201-337-1111 ext 208 or visit www.ssnj.org