December 2024

Students move from dynamic classroom learning focusing on concepts and vocabulary about bridges and their function onto the early stages of design. Experimenting with virtual prototypes in testing software leads each student to penciling a rough concept sketch of their own. These concepts are then brought to the work table for discussion and critique with their building team who then, as a group, choose a design to move forward to full scale.

It’s at this juncture that O’Maley’s Science Center program deviates from the standard middle school toothpick/popsicle stick model bridge project.

A crash course in generating ¼ scale construction drawings has students producing a working construction drawing of an 8 foot wooden truss bridge for team members to build. 

It would be difficult to overstate the value of this process. 

It is here that students are faced with navigating the complex intersection of idea and object, communicating their observations to others so that they may be incorporated or not, into the team’s bridge ‘blueprint’.

Hard skills such as applied math, accurate measurement and drawing with tools, are combined with the soft skills of team building and communication to create a working finished drawing. 

Building off of a 1/4" x 8" x 8 foot long plywood deck, Students work at speed to bring their designs to life, forming arches and box trusses out of spruce and wood glue. 

Where have all the bluebirds gone?

February, 2024

6th grade students take on the task of habitat restoration by building bluebird nest boxes.

Bluebirds are found only in North America. There are three species of bluebirds and all are secondary cavity nesters, meaning they rely on the abandoned cavities made by primary cavity nesters such as woodpeckers. 

Clearing of land for buildings, highways and large scale agriculture has greatly reduced the supply of natural cavities for bluebirds. This habitat loss is compounded by the presence of two invasive species to North America, the European Starling and the House Sparrow. Both the European Starling and the House Sparrow are extremely aggressive secondary cavity nesters and will outcompete bluebirds for available cavities.

Since 2010, O’Maley students have been building and installing bluebird nest boxes around Cape Ann to provide suitable habitat for the bluebirds. If you see a bluebird, thank a 6th grader.

Massachusetts STE Standards:

6.MS-ETS1-1. Define the criteria and constraints of a design problem with sufficient precision to ensure a successful solution. Include potential impacts on people and the natural environment that may limit possible solutions.

6.MS-ETS1-5(MA). Create visual representations of solutions to a design problem. Accurately interpret and apply scale and proportion to visual representations. 

Clarification Statements: 

• Examples of visual representations can include sketches, scaled drawings, and orthographic projections. 

• Examples of scale can include ¼ʺ = 1ʹ0ʺ and 1 cm = 1 m. 

6.MS-ETS1-6(MA). Communicate a design solution to an intended user, including design features and limitations of the solution. Clarification Statement: 

• Examples of intended users can include students, parents, teachers, manufacturing personnel, engineers, and customers. 

6.MS-ETS2-3(MA). Choose and safely use appropriate measuring tools, hand tools, fasteners, and common hand-held power tools used to construct a prototype.

Clarification Statements: 

• Examples of measuring tools include a tape measure, a meter stick, and a ruler. 

• Examples of hand tools include a hammer, a screwdriver, a wrench, and pliers. 

• Examples of fasteners include nails, screws, nuts and bolts, staples, glue, and tape. 

• Examples of common power tools include jigsaw, drill, and sander.