Third-grade students at Moriches Elementary School recently participated in an innovative STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math) lab in which they created a fully functional miniature golf course!

Working in teams with STEM teacher Mrs. Nicolle Ranieri, the students, dubbed “Putt-Putt Engineers,” actively explored and applied foundational concepts such as force, motion, kinetic and potential energy as they engineered obstacles and features that would function effectively in the golf holes they were tasked with designing.

Using the engineering design process, each third-grade class designed four unique golf holes by brainstorming, sketching detailed blueprints, building prototypes, testing their creations and refining their designs through multiple iterations.

The lab also incorporated advanced technology through a partnership with school librarian Mr. Greg Amato, as the students learned to use the 3D-design platform Tinkercad to transform their ideas into 3D models. Next, the students used 3D-printing technology to manufacture the models they created on the computer as targets and various other features for their respective golf holes.

This exciting, interdisciplinary activity culminated in an outdoor community event where the students tried out the course they created alongside their peers. Members of the William Floyd High School boys’ varsity golf team were also on hand, along with coach and Moriches fourth-grade teacher Tom Short, who connected with the third-grade students by offering golfing tips and celebrating their hard work in creating the course.

Through their participation in the lab, the third-grade students gained new insights in the fields of science, physics, design, engineering and technology through an activity that also fostered a joyful collaboration with high school students.

The project provided students with an engaging opportunity to apply classroom concepts in a real-world setting while fostering creativity, collaboration and problem-solving skills – and having some fun in the process!