2nd Grade

updated 11/20/2025

2nd Grade GATE – Fall Highlights

Our 2nd grade GATE students jumped right into an exciting fall full of building, imagining and exploring. They learned what STEAM means and discovered how engineers use teamwork, creativity and problem solving to bring ideas to life. 

Fall STEAM Challenges

Our 2nd grade GATE students began the year with a series of hands on STEAM challenges that helped them build confidence as young engineers. Through activities that involved building, sketching, testing and revising, students learned how criteria and constraints shape their designs and how important it is to collaborate and communicate with their peers.

Students kicked off the year with the MakerSpace Name Challenge, where they used assorted materials to build the letters of their names. They explored how shape, structure and balance work together while creating a design that was both sturdy and creative.

Next, students worked in teams during the Tallest Tower Challenge, where they used limited materials and a time limit to build the tallest free standing tower they could. This challenge encouraged teamwork, problem solving and thoughtful planning.

Students also completed an Animal Shelter Challenge, designing and constructing a shelter for an animal using only the materials provided. With one class period to plan, build and test their ideas, students learned how to think quickly, make adjustments and use their creativity under pressure.

Monster Trouble Obstacle Course Engineering Project

Our major fall project was inspired by the picture book Monster Trouble. Students were challenged to design and build an obstacle course that would keep the monsters busy so they would not disturb Winnie. To begin, students created detailed blueprints that mapped out each part of their obstacle course, labeling materials and planning how each obstacle would work. Once their plans were complete, students brought their ideas to life and constructed their courses using assorted craft materials, recyclables and creative engineering strategies. The imagination and problem solving in these builds were outstanding, and students loved testing their obstacle courses when they were complete.

NJCGTP Annual STEAM Challenge: Do You Want to Build a Snowman

We are now working on our entries for the New Jersey Consortium for Gifted and Talented Programs annual STEAM Challenge, Do You Want to Build a Snowman. While this is not their first GATE competition experience, it is the first competition of the 2025–2026 school year, and students are excited to participate.

This challenge invites students to design and build their own three dimensional snow person or snow animal while following a thoughtful set of engineering guidelines. Students learned that their snow person must be at least ten inches tall and part of a display that fits within specific height, width and depth measurements. They also discovered the importance of sustainability, since at least half of their project must be made from recycled or repurposed materials. The heart of the challenge focuses on character, and each student selected one of the Seven Pillars of Character to show through their snow person.

Some students chose Caring, imagining a snow person helping others, while others chose traits such as Courage, Responsibility or Respect. It has been inspiring to see how thoughtfully students have integrated their chosen character qualities into their designs.

As students finish their builds, their competition pieces are looking amazing. After Thanksgiving, students will begin writing scripts and recording their videos for the judges. In their videos, they will describe their snow person, explain the materials they used and share how their chosen pillar of character is represented.  Below is the Google Form that must be completed in order for students to submit their videos for judging for the NJCGTP.