PHOTOS: Grade 4 Students Apply Knowledge of Electrical Circuits in Creation of Lighthouses

St. Margaret’s grade 4 students applied their knowledge of electrical circuits and their studies of physics and maritime history for a fun STEAM project constructing lighthouses.

 

Students made their own electrical circuits, using 22-gage wire, an LED light and a switch, and even hand-soldered the wires to the LED. The electrical hardware was hidden inside the lighthouse, which was intentionally striped just as lighthouses are for daytime identification.

 

“Students also studied the physics of how lenses refract and bend light, which is an important part of a lighthouse’s purpose in providing navigational aid to sailors,” Lower School science teacher David Beshk said.

 

In addition to the scientific elements of creating electrical circuitry, students also brought out their visual arts creativity in the projects while integrating design elements like small rocks and stripes, which are important in daytime identification of a lighthouse.

 

“STEAM projects like this are a great way to integrate the science and engineering standards in an engaging, hands-on project,” Mr. Beshk said. “I believe that hands-on equals minds-on.”