Fourth and fifth grade students in Patty’s Newman’s STEM classes in the Copiague School District put their problem-solving skills to work during a hands-on project focused on empathy, innovation and design. As part of the STEM project, the fourth and fifth graders researched fidget devices and how they can support learners with special needs by providing sensory input that helps with focus and regulation.

Using the engineering design process, students planned and created their own fidget prototypes designed to meet a specific sensory need. Over several weeks, they brainstormed ideas, selected materials, built models, tested their designs and made improvements based on their results.

The project concluded with students sharing and explaining their fidget prototypes to classmates, highlighting the features they included and how their designs could be helpful in a classroom setting. Through this experience, students strengthened their understanding of engineering principles while developing creativity, collaboration and compassion for others’ needs.