Axis STEM Student Projects & Design Challenges

Walking on Water Challenge
 - Fall 2018 -

At the start of each year students are given a design challenge to introduce them to the world of STEM and set the foundations for a year of hands on problem solving and design. 

This year we set student groups the challenge of building a water craft that would allow them to walk across a body of water.  Using only recycled materials students were given 4 days to design and construct their ideas to create a vessel.  What resulted was an amazing day of dramatic splashes and learning in action at Santa Rosa's Spring Lake lagoon.

Community Builder Project
- Spring 2016 -

In a 5-week intensive project students were challenged with re-imagining a public space in the town of Windsor in such a way that it would help to develop community interaction.  Student learning experiences combined novels from their English classes, designing thinking protocols, field trips to nearby examples of community hubs, and reflection upon community evolution through American history.  The project culminated with students building installations to be placed around the town of Windsor where they interviewed participants and recorded public reaction. 

STEM Design Day
- Spring 2017 -

As part of our effort to provide educational outreach in STEM and push our students to take leadership roles, the Axis STEM 11/12 program created a STEM Design Day at the Sonoma Jet Center.

More than 200 students filled an air hangar and took on the task of designing and building a humanitarian aid airdrop system.  Students had to release their prototypes from 25 feet above the ground and have them glide as far as possible with their fragile cargo of a raw egg.  The experience was guided by 11/12 STEM coaches that guided teams of 9th and 10th graders.