Last Thursday evening the Christ Church Day School courtyard was transformed into an amazing mini-golf course which included holes with dinosaurs and sharks, palm trees and snow covered landscapes, pyramids, and even a pirate ship! Combining the fun of miniature golf with a STEM learning project involving angles, shapes, and geometric principles, each sixth grade student designed, developed, and constructed their own golf hole. The course opened for play at 5:00 p.m. and was crowded with school students and their families, parishioners, and members of the community. Even Coronado’s former mayor Casey Tanaka and Councilman Bill Sandke played a round!
Not only did the students learn a lot about geometry, building, and time management, they also had fun doing it. Sixth grade teacher, Ms. Kapler, said, “What is important to me is utilizing geometry skills in a way that helps show the students that STEM skills are both fun and practical.” Throughout the course, posters created by the students explained the geometric designs to all golfers so they could learn as they played.
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math skills (STEM) are critical to preparing our students for the challenges of the future. Exposure to projects incorporating STEM activities enhance curriculum, promote problem-solving and critical thinking.
To add to the enjoyment of the evening, Sixth Grade families hosted a pizza and bake sale to raise money for the class trip to Washington, DC in the spring. Based on all the smiles seen on campus that night, we would say this first mini-golf event was a huge success!
Christ Church Day School serves students in Junior Kindergarten through Sixth Grade. For more information you can contact the school office at 619-435-6393 or www.cccds.org.
