Cullman elementary students build cranberry rafts in unique STEM project

CULLMAN, Ala. – As most folks gear up to use cranberries for Thanksgiving dinner later this month, elementary students at West Elementary and East Elementary are using them for a unique lesson about buoyancy, weight and forces. 
 
Sixth graders at East and West are spending time this month with some innovative Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) experiments, including a hands-on physics challenge to engineer their own cranberry rafts. 
 
“They tested their creations by adding quarters to see how much weight each raft could hold before sinking,” East and West STEM teacher Jennifer Tidwell explained. “As they design and test their floating creations, students explore key science concepts such as buoyancy, weight and forces. This fun project connected real-world engineering to the science behind how and why objects float or sink.” 
 
Projects like this are just a small component of Cullman City Schools’ expansive approach to STEM education, teaching students about math and science concepts with hands-on projects that translate those ideas into tangible experiences. 
 
“These activities engage students’ curiosity and creativity while connecting science and engineering concepts to real-world situations,” Tidwell explained. “By experimenting, testing, and improving their designs, students practice critical thinking, collaboration, and problem-solving — the core of STEM education. At Cullman, we believe that when students are having fun exploring how and why things work, they’re building both knowledge and confidence to take on bigger challenges in the future.” 
 
Tidwell added that students had a lot of fun while weaving in the lesson of buoyancy and floating, as it quickly became a friendly competition among students to push their creativity and ingenuity to see who could make their rafts float the longest. 
 
“Seeing students light up during STEM lessons is one of the most rewarding experiences a teacher can have,” Tidwell added. “Their curiosity is endless — they’re always eager to find out what exciting STEM challenge we’ll tackle next.”