Stewart Middle School eighth-graders turned their classroom into an engineering lab last week as 
they designed and built working roller coasters from everyday materials.
Students in Felicia Pope's science class used cardboard tubes, tape, and LEGO pieces to construct roller coasters that demonstrated the principles of speed, distance, velocity, and acceleration they've been studying in their current unit.
The hands-on project created an engaging challenge that required students to calculate angles and energy transfers to ensure their marble "cars" could successfully navigate their tracks.
"It was amazing to see the students apply the concepts we've learned in class to a real-world project," said Pope, the instructor behind this exciting endeavor. "They had to think critically, problem-solve, and work collaboratively to create roller coasters that were both functional and creative. And they had fun!"