Selected News

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO — Students across Widefield School District 3 (WSD3) recently completed a heartfelt project, using their creativity and growing technology skills to craft a collection of custom 3D-printed toys for the families staying at the Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) of Southern Colorado.

The initiative, which spanned several schools across the district, was an exercise in empathy, design thinking, and community giving. The special toy drop-off took place on Thursday, December 18th, just in time for the holidays.

A District-Wide Effort: From Makerspace to Model

The project was integrated into the district's robust STEM and Innovation program, which ensures that all WSD3 schools have access to technology like 3D printers and makerspaces. Students across participating schools followed a comprehensive design process that blended traditional research with cutting-edge additive manufacturing.

Sam Sielder, the STEM Champion Teacher at Pinello Elementary School, shared insights into the months-long effort that was mirrored across the district's classrooms:

"Students have been fully immersed in this project since mid-October. They began by researching toy design in the library and sketching initial concepts. Following the design phase, students transitioned to Tinkercad to digitally build their toys. Once printed, students get the opportunity to hand-color their toys using markers."

This hands-on process allowed students to learn valuable technical skills while focusing on the core goal: designing toys with the recipient in mind - children facing challenging circumstances who are temporarily away from home for the holidays.

Designing with Empathy and Safety

A fundamental component of the project was ensuring the toys were safe, fun, and appealing. Fifth-grade student Juni Jackson, from Pinello Elementary, highlighted this thoughtful approach, which was common among the district's young designers:

"We are designing 3D-printed toys for children who are not able to be home for Christmas. I created my design based on a character from the Minecraft game. I believe that receiving a toy like this would make a child happy. This toy was modeled using Tinkercad. My design prioritizes safety by ensuring there are no sharp edges."

After the designs were printed in the schools' makerspaces, students across the district personalized them by hand-coloring each piece, adding a unique and vibrant touch to the finished creations.

A Rewarding Display of Engagement

Sielder emphasized the profound impact the project had on her students, noting a feeling of engagement shared by teachers across WSD3:

"I've witnessed 100% engagement from all my students; they are creating things they would genuinely enjoy giving to someone else. It has been incredibly rewarding to see the children motivated to build something from the ground up and then to know their creations will bring happiness to other kids."

The successful drop-off at the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southern Colorado provided an important lesson in giving back, demonstrating how WSD3 students are collectively using their STEM skills to make a difference in their community this holiday season.