Our Wildwood, Summer 2019, Volume 45

FEATURE Applied Math and Science = Smooth Sailing

Each boat in this race is designed and built by the students—the materials: cardboard and duct tape. Get the mathematical calculations wrong or misapply the scientific theories underlying buoyancy and you go down with the ship. But the nature of science and mathematics is learning from mistakes, and for these Wildwood students, the annual regatta provides them the opportunity to literally step into their work and (maybe) get their feet wet. The winning boat—The Jolly Rancher—was designed by Becca R., Charlotte Z., Kate E., and Merrin C. The victorious team shares that both their and their classmates’ processes began with brainstorming— talking about and sketching possible designs. Each group creates a two-dimensional sketch on paper and a 3D model on a design app called Tinkercad. From their drawings, the teams craft a 1/10-size model, then scale it up to build the real thing. The teams calculate whether their designs would sink or float in the pool—real applied learning. “There’s math and science in every step of the process,” Charlotte shares. “We didn’t just randomly start cutting and assembling.”

The Cardboard Boat Regatta project exemplifies Wildwood’s project-based approach to learning. It also leverages the flexibility built into the Division One schedule: Science teacher Na Xue and math teacher Scott Blanding convene their respective classes at the same time. For this project and others, the two teachers combine their classes and co-teach what’s unofficially known as STEMinar (STEM = science, technology, engineering, and math). For a few weeks before spring break, 6th grade students work in STEMinar, learning the math and science principles involved and designing their boats. Scott and Na foster and monitor the work and enjoy tracking and supporting their students’ process. Carol Ann Tomlinson, a well-known educational researcher and professor at the University of Virginia, sums up the role that STEM teachers like Na and Scott play in students’ learning: “Give me teachers who relentlessly cause kids to wonder why? and how did that happen? and what if? as though those questions were the lifeblood of learning.” 1 The Cardboard Boat Regatta is the culmination of these teachers’ inspiration and their students’ hard work—a fun celebration and 6th grade

24