Skip to main content

Merrick School District

Beginnings of a Bright Future

Schools

Popular Links

October 15, 2025

Chatterton Kindergartners Become Young Engineers in Invention Lab

Kindergartners in Dr. Green and Ms. Kalos’s class at Chatterton turned their classroom into an invention lab during a Mystery Science mini-lesson, “What’s the Biggest Apple in the World?”  

After exploring different kinds of apples, students dove into the Apple Trapper activity—an engineering design challenge to create a device that could pick up apples in the classroom. 

“Young inventors brainstormed first, sketching ideas and listing materials they could find around the room,” explained Dr. Green. “Their creative solutions included using pencils like chopsticks and building grippers with Unifix cubes. Guided by the engineering design process, children explored the properties of paper (folding, rolling, layering for strength) and combined it with classroom materials to prototype, test, learn from failure, and try again—over and over.” 

The result was a joyful mix of science, technology, engineering, art, and math—STEAM in action—where persistence mattered as much as the final design. Students discovered that even simple materials can solve real problems when you think like an engineer.  

“The class celebrated every improvement, big or small, proving that innovation starts with curiosity, teamwork, and the courage to keep tinkering,” added Ms. Kalos. 

 

Two children collaborate at a table, playing with building blocks and other toys.   Two children play together on a blue carpet in a classroom setting.   Two young girls collaborate at a blue table, playing with colorful blocks in a classroom.       Two children sit at a table, working on a project with blocks and other materials.   Two young children work together at a red table in a classroom.   Two young girls work together at a blue table, playing with colorful materials.    Two children play together on a blue carpet in a classroom.