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Third graders show 'Project Lead the Way' projects as district highlights hands-on learning
Summary
Elementary teachers and students presented Project Lead the Way projects to the board, showcasing engineering and STEM-aligned lessons (beanstalks, beehabitats, Punnett-square species) that teachers say bolster collaboration, problem solving and student confidence.
Elementary principals and teachers presented examples of Project Lead the Way (PLTW) during the board's May 11 meeting, bringing students to describe hands-on engineering and science lessons.
A kindergarten teacher explained how PLTW engages young learners in project-based tasks — building homes for the "three little pigs" and testing structures against a model "wolf" — and said the activities reinforce literacy, math and science while also building students' confidence and public-speaking skills. "PLTW does create an environment where students are engaged, hands-on learning and it also allows them to be more of the teacher for them to share with the class what they made," the teacher said.
Third-grade students presented a Punnett-square project where they designed species, assigned traits and explained survival adaptations; one student, Harper Fetchik, said the bee-habitat module allowed her to "work with my team and to problem solve," while another, Theo Nolan, cited facts learned about queen bees. Teachers said the program requires initial training and adjustment but that student engagement and academic growth have been substantial.
Superintendent Dr. Hicks and board members praised the presentations and invited teachers and students to pose for photos; administration noted PLTW remains time-intensive to prep but yields classroom leadership and problem-solving opportunities that scale into higher grades.
