Fifth grade students at Mineola Middle School had the unique experience of working with members of the LIRR Expansion Project team to participate in a real-world STEAM activity.

After learning about the LIRR’s third-rail project and the need to build bridges for it, students were tasked with building a Warren truss bridge out of toothpicks and clay that could support cars, simulated by marbles.

Through the project, students learned that triangle shapes are actually more sturdy bridges for this purpose!