Gifted students recently heard a guest speaker presentation by architect Mrs. Jessica Walker, as part of the Architecture Unit. She spoke about how learning about drafting in high school introduced her to the field of architecture; the degree and qualifications required to become an architect; and the differences between commercial architecture and residential architecture, which is the focus of her designs. Students had the opportunity to view architectural plans for a house and samples of building materials, and prizes were awarded for students who correctly answered architecture-related questions.

During the recently concluded Engineering Safety Vests Unit, students in Ms. Lucy Parker’s gifted classes at FES used the Engineering Design Process to design and create a vest that would help a pedestrian, cyclist, or skateboarder safely travel through an intersection. Students first created a model bench as an introduction to the unit and to the Engineering Design Process. Then, students worked throughout the unit to create a vest featuring electrical signals with the information they wished to communicate, utilizing their knowledge of electrical circuits and communication systems to complete their project.