Cyrene Slegona

Slegona's "Bugs: How Do They Do It?" project combines the disciplines of life science and engineering as students study insects and build mechanical models of them. Initially, students observe insect life cycles and analyze insect movement. Then students go to work building increasingly efficient insect scale models, keeping a journal of their progress and findings in the process. Over the course of the project, students learn and practice science, math, and visual arts concepts, while gaining valuable research and writing experience. Students also act as mentors and assistants to partner classrooms that are introducing engineering tasks to their students.