Sheila Pressler, Linda Leventhal, Shaun Gaskin and Jim Nold

The team’s innovative teaching idea, “Integrated Engineering,” is focused on using the enduring legacy of ancient Greece and Rome to teach students about history, science, social studies and mathematics. The teachers will have groups of students build a three-dimensional model of a Roman city, while focusing on characteristics the Romans admired about the Greeks. The students will need to take into consideration population density and create blueprints to ensure the city meets the needs of all of its citizens. The students will work collaboratively to create their Roman city and rely on task cards to build structures that range in difficulty from tunnel vaults, defensive walls, and arches to bridges, aqueducts and siege machines like catapults. These hands-on learning activities will enrich the discovery experience for students, while introducing them to fundamental concepts in engineering, architecture, construction and city planning.