Davidson School Grade 8 science teacher Karielle Willner issued a challenge to her students two weeks ago to build a hydraulic machine using cardboard, wood, glue, water, tubing and syringes in an effort to engage the students in learning science through hands-on experience.

Willner said the task gives the students an opportunity to test their problem-solving skills over the two-and-a-half periods they were allotted for the challenge. She said the students had to come up with their own idea for what machine they wanted to build, research how to build it, build it, then present a report detailing their project.

“They could be as creative as they wanted,” said Willner, noting the kids also were allowed to choose what level they wanted to work at with level 3 being grade-level/satisfactory and level 5 being the most challenging task.

Geena Heinrich, who built a dump truck with Justin Sandsbraaten and Jessica Matheson that featured a hydraulic lifting open-box bed at the rear of the machine, said their project has a level 5 assessment. She said they initially wanted to build a car, but that didn’t quite work out.

“Then I was just looking at hydraulics on my farm and came up with this,” said Geena.

Willner said the project is based on inquiry-based curriculum that gives students opportunities of understanding concepts through activities such as problem solving tasks. She said through assignments such as these the kids get to learn as they go and then show her what they have learned through their work.

The project is a great learning tool because kids can experience “that ‘Aha!’ moment” when they find out for themselves what works and what doesn’t, she said.