East Hills Elementary School fourth graders concluded a STEAM unit on Energy Conversion with a challenge to design and build their very own wind turbine that would spin and lift a paper cup up and down.

To prepare, they took a virtual field trip to a wind turbine field and learned the ins and outs of how one operates. Then, over several weeks, students worked in groups of four in the STEAM room to design, build, and test the wind turbines they created.

“The fourth graders showed enormous talent when completing this extremely hard STEAM challenge,” said STEAM teacher Betina Puliafico. “During the building of the wind turbines they showed teamwork, determination, and patience.”