There was no shortage of excitement in Mrs. Slansky’s 6th grade classroom recently. Armed with straws, paper, tape, and cardboard, students at the Abraham & Sara Silber Middle School at Yeshiva of South Shore rolled up their sleeves and took on the role of structural engineers — challenged to design and build earthquake-resistant buildings from scratch.The hands-on activity had students working in teams, brainstorming designs, debating construction methods, and testing their creations for stability. The classroom buzzed with energy as models took shape — some towering confidently, others requiring a quick rethink and a fresh round of problem-solving. Throughout it all, students collaborated, encouraged one another, and discovered firsthand that great engineering rarely happens on the first try.
The project brought core STEM concepts to life in a tangible, memorable way, asking students not just to learn about structural integrity and seismic forces, but to apply that knowledge under real creative pressure. The results were as varied and inventive as the students themselves.Mrs. Slansky’s class is a reminder that some of the most powerful learning happens when students are given a challenge, a handful of materials, and the freedom to figure it out.