Grade: K-5

Teacher Name: Mrs. Shaner

Description and purpose of grant: I am asking for the Rigamajig Chutes Add-on Kit to complement the Rigamajig Basic Builder Kit that I received through a CEF grant last year. This add-on kit will transform the Rigamajig Basic Builder Kit into a system of chutes and ramps, which will allow learners to experiment with cause and effect, gravity, and systems thinking. This grant correlates with our campus goal of incorporating more hands-on science experiences for learners and our district goal of great teaching.

• Rigamajig allows learners to experience the 4 C’s of 21st Century Skills: communication, collaboration, creativity, and critical thinking. Researchers at Purdue University and Concordia University found that when building with Rigamajig, students demonstrated many engineering actions, both gross and fine motor behaviors, leadership behaviors, and active collaboration. 

• Students will have multiple opportunities to bring their designs to life by using the large-scale building materials. The Chutes Add-on will make their designs more interactive and give students opportunities to make their own Rube Goldberg machines.

Implementation process: All K-5 learners at the school will benefit from the use of the Rigamajig Chutes Add-on Kit. I plan to implement the project during students' STEAM class in the spring semester. Learners will continue to have access to the materials from this grant for years to come. 

• Learners will have multiple opportunities to experiment with various designs in the creation of their own Rube Goldberg machines. I plan to provide learners with various engineering design challenges that will inspire kids to utilize the Rigamajig Chutes Add-on. Students will practice experimenting with cause and effect situations, gravity, and systems thinking. 

• The website offers 20+ research-based Project Plans for various grade bands like K-2 and 3-5. I can also assign projects based on level, such as beginner, intermediate, and advanced.

Items you plan to purchase with grant money: I plan to purchase the Rigamajig Chutes-Add On Kit with the grant money. It comes with 93 parts total. The shipping cost is included in the grant total. 

In the event my grant is not fully funded, this is minimum amount I would need to get started on this project: The grant must be fully funded to be implemented.