Tiny Town Challenge

In this challenge, students in grades K-5 work as a class to create six buildings for Tiny Town. The goal is to provide resources for community members, while making choices that are smart for the environment and community members (balance between businesses, resources, housing, and employment opportunities). Current events from our own communities help us to make connections as we make decisions.

Students were asked to incorporate a circuit to add light, movement, or sound to their building. We used a variety of circuitry components/resources including squishy circuits, circuit cubes, LittleBits, and traditional circuitry components (copper tape, coin batteries, and LED bulbs. Students in grades 4-5 researched switch types for their paper circuits in an effort to provide Family STEAM Night attendees a chance to activitate their switch, giving their circuit a chance to be open (off) in an effort to conserve energy.

We showcase Tiny Town during Family STEAM Night. More pictures of this (along with the challenge resources) can be viewed and/or downloaded by clicking the arrow below.

A few changes will be made the next time we do this project (it is a once every six years challenge):

  • strict adherance to embellishment limit
  • pull tables apart to create islands for Tiny Town community, during Family STEAM Night
  • create smaller K-2 buildings (create size check anchor charts for students to utilize
  • incorporate laser cutting technology for Tiny Town signage
  • incorporate green screen technology by having student groups create decision videos of group members in front of their building (inviting Family STEAM Night attendees to come see their building)
STEAM / STEM

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