Mar 25 2010
Sixth Graders are Handy
What might sixth graders come up with when given the following task: Design a hand that can be activated with a pulled cord or string, that springs back after the cord is released, and can mimic three activities of a human hand: grasping, lifting, and releasing? Students in Ms. Price’s sixth grade science classes recently demonstrated exactly what they could come up with in this annual test of ingenuity and creativity.
Students were required to make their hands entire IN CLASS. This allowed Ms. Price to supervise the students’ work, and allowed sixth grade homes a bit of reprieve after spending a number of days on castle projects. 
During the hand demonstration, students presented a slide show they created. Students were also challenged to use their invented hand to pick up three items: a cork, a mechanical toy bull, and a wooden shoe. As a bonus test, students attempted to pick up a backpack with mystery contents.
“This was a difficult project that required high order thinking. It was frustrating yet rewarding at the same time. Students stepped up to the challenge. They were proud of themselves and I was proud of them,” Ms. Price said of her handy students!
