James LaFleur, Andrea Crawford and Christine Jeanos

The team’s innovative teaching idea, “Literature Alive: With 3D Printing,” focuses on enhancing literacy instruction by adding hands-on components in the enrichment classes at Coral Academy of Science Elementary North. Fourth-grade students will embark on a journey through the pages of “The Wild Robot” by Peter Brown and step into a classroom adventure where literature meets technology. In this innovative project, students delve into the captivating narrative of Roz, a robot stranded on a wild island, and explore themes of survival, friendship and adaptation. As the story unfolds, students immerse themselves in the world of robotics and design, transitioning from the realm of imagination to hands-on creation. Using TinkerCAD, a user-friendly 3D modeling platform, students learn the fundamentals of digital design and bring the characters and elements from the book to life in virtual space. Through this interdisciplinary project, students not only deepen their understanding of the themes and characters of the story, but also develop essential STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) skills in design, modeling and prototyping.