December 11, 2025
Grade 1 and 2 Students Engineer Fun and Learning at Annual Science Fair
On Tuesday, 9 December 2025, ISZN celebrated a spectacular fusion of science and engineering as our Grade 1 and 2 students showcased their learning at the annual Science and Engineering Fair. The event was a dynamic display of practical application, transforming the knowledge of material properties into interactive exhibits and engaging engineering projects.
Our fabulous 1st and 2nd grade teachers structured the fair around the Oak Academy curriculum, with practical application and assessment guided by the authentic design framework known as GRASPS (Goal, Role, Audience, Situation, Product, Standards). This framework encouraged our students to step confidently into the roles of scientists and engineers, demonstrating their mastery of complex concepts.
Collaboration and Investigation: Properties of Materials
The fair began with an investigation where both Grade 1 and Grade 2 students introduced the material properties they had studied—such as elasticity or absorbency—and described the specific traits of those properties. They explained how some materials stretch more than others, or how certain materials absorb more liquid.
We then invited parents to become scientists themselves, testing a range of materials and recording their observations using simple scientific methods.
This hands-on process was clearly demonstrated at the elasticity station. Here, parents stretched pieces of fleece, fabric, and wool—each carefully cut to a length of 23 cm—against a ruler to measure precisely how far they could be extended. Parents then used their results to determine which materials were most or least elastic. Our students and parents analysed the results together, with the young scientists confidently guiding the deductive reasoning process.
Engineering Projects: Application and Innovation
Following the investigation, the students separated to present their specialized engineering applications:
Grade 1: The Engineers of the Senses
Our Grade 1 students creatively demonstrated their understanding of material properties through expertly designed “senses stations.” These projects were engineered to challenge visitors to engage with the world through touch, sight, and hearing, highlighting how different material properties are perceived.
At one Senses Station, the “Feeling” group created special feeling boxes filled with a variety of materials. Each group member selected different textures—such as soft, rough, smooth, or bumpy—and placed them inside their box. During the activity, parents reached inside without looking and tried to guess the material, describe its properties (for example, rough or smooth, hard or soft), and then sort it to the correct material. This hands-on station encouraged careful observation, sensory exploration, and fun interaction between children and parents.
Grade 2: Designing with Purpose (3D Game Prototypes)
Our Grade 2 students presented their engineering prowess through complex 3D game prototypes. These projects required students to apply their knowledge of materials directly to their design, focusing on purpose and precision.
Students explained their material selections and described how they had to modify those materials to introduce a greater challenge for the player. For instance, some engineers added moving components to a marble run or strategically adjusted the thickness of wooden pieces to make guiding the marble easier or more difficult. This demonstrated a clear understanding that their game’s mechanics and challenges were directly dictated by the properties of the materials chosen.
Overcoming Real-World Challenges
Throughout their work, the students faced real-world engineering challenges that required teamwork and quick thinking.
One key observation was the discovery that liquid properties affect materials. When applying PVA glue, the students noticed first-hand that the cardboard began to twist and deform. To solve this unexpected problem, they devised a brilliant plan to reinforce the structure: adding a strong stick to the bottom of the box to push it flat again. This simple yet effective solution became a major takeaway across all groups, genuinely amazing the students.
Other challenges included choosing a design everyone agreed on and overcoming practical problems like materials slipping and sliding. This required a high level of cooperation—holding pieces in place, adding glue, waiting, and sometimes applying a second layer. Furthermore, our students learned to manage tasks safely; for instance, while working with low-melting hot glue guns (which are quite safe already), showing a strong awareness of safety first.
Confident Communication and Scientific Language
The success of the fair was underscored by the students’ ability to articulate their learning. Throughout their presentations and discussions, students used scientific vocabulary that was precise and suitable for their task and design, showing a strong grasp of both the processes involved and the importance of accurate language. They confidently responded to audience questions about their material choices and design challenges, validating the effectiveness of the GRASPS assessment model.
The annual Science and Engineering Fair was a powerful celebration of learning, highlighting how our young students at ISZN are not only mastering scientific concepts but are also applying this essential knowledge as effective, articulate engineers.
Additional reading on the GRASPS framework:
https://beyondthesewallsresources.com/takings-grasps-of-real-world-learning/
https://www.teachingandlearningnetwork.com/curriculum-design.html
