Maggie Chesser

Chesser’s innovative teaching idea, “Coyote Construction Corner,” focuses on creating an engineering and technology makerspace at Shelton Elementary School. Students involved in the project will use materials to complete engineering design challenges ranging from STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math)-based picture book activities to engineering and curriculum-based problems. Students will create prototypes of possible wildlife bridges before coding robots to cross the bridges, testing for durability and design implications. Each classroom at Shelton will print a final prototype and present their final designs and research findings. The Shelton 3D Problem Bank will also invite students to design a solution to school issues or needs. According to Chesser, any student involved in the program will have an opportunity to accept the challenge, research and design solutions, print and test prototypes, and print the products for use.