On a bright, breezy afternoon, students at Serena Hills Elementary School in Flossmoor experienced the kind of learning that literally lifts off the page! Led by Golden Apple Award-winning teacher Andrea Beaty, third grade students participated in a hands-on STEAM project focused on the science of flying kites.
In the weeks leading up to the May 7 launch, students explored the forces that make flight possible. They studied lift, drag, gravity and thrust gaining an understanding of how wind interacts with surface area and shape.
After reading about William Kamkwamba’s journey in “The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind,” the class decided to become inventors. They started by making paper airplanes to see how air moves, then they used their ‘engineering superpowers’ to ask, imagine and plan their own wind turbines. Just like real engineers, the students built models, tested them in the wind and kept making them better until they worked.
Through hands-on experiments and design challenges, the third graders discovered how adjustments to a kite’s tail, frame and angle could impact stability and height. Concepts like measurement, symmetry and engineering design came to life as students built and refined their own kites.
Students realized how wind is created by the uneven heating of the earth’s surface as they studied spring temperatures going up and down. When launch day arrived, the conditions were excellent for their experiment. The winds were steady enough to send each carefully crafted kite soaring. Students were excited to see their designs take flight. They made real-time observations and cheered each other on.
“This project gave students the chance to truly experience science in action,” Beaty said. “They were not just learning about forces and motion. They were testing ideas, making adjustments and seeing the results right in front of them.”
Serena Hills School partnered with the Chicago Heights Park District that provided students with the space and support they needed to bring their learning outdoors and into action.
Principal Elizabeth Reich reflected on the day. “There is something powerful about watching students apply what they have learned in such a joyful, hands-on way. Experiences like this spark curiosity, build confidence and create lasting memories,” she said.
