LI Kids Use Engineering Skills To Build Toys

MANORVILLE, NY — Kids at Dayton Avenue Elementary School in Manorville were given a project sure to delight recently — they were able to use engineering skills to design toys.

The students could also choose to upgrade a toy currently on the market, the Eastport-South Manor School District said.

During the five-week project-based learning unit, the students first researched the history of past and current toys. The next step in the process was to create a 3D design on the program Tinkercad or to utilize the design program Canva to advertise a new toy or upgraded version, the district said.

Science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics teacher Elizabeth Andreassi explained that the essential question asked during the project was, “Do you think you can design the next best toy?”

Upon completion of the project, the students shared their toy designs with peers. Alvaro Garcia, a fifth grader, designed an Ocelot action figure that can roll and be utilized without the eyes and mouth.

STEAM students Caitlin Rivera and Eylul Ergun used the program Canva to advertise their toy creation.

Franklin Millan–Pax, a fifth grade student, created the Chip Plush, a talking toy that interacts with other toys, the district said.