Did you know there’s a National Spaghetti Day?

Mrs. Bergan’s second-grade class at St. Elizabeth Regional School, Fullerton, knows. In fact, the day is observed Jan. 4, and the students participated in a STEM challenge to celebrate. This STEM challenge required the students to use tape and spaghetti to build a structure. The catch? Each structure was required to support a marshmallow for 15 seconds.

STEM - Science, Technology, Engineering and Math - was implemented to introduce the processes of creating engineering designs while incorporating brainstorming and teamwork techniques along the way. Mrs. Bergan’s class separated into groups and was given 20 strands of spaghetti, meter-long strands of tape, scissors, pencils, paper and meter sticks.

With 18 minutes on the clock, the students worked together to sketch out structure ideas and bring them to life with the hopes of conquering the challenge. Principal Linda Schiller even joined in on the fun, assisting various teams throughout the activity.

The class anxiously watched each structure as it was put to the test. Would it be able to sustain a marshmallow?

No matter the outcome, Mrs. Bergan stressed, “No discouragement, only encouragement” to each student.

This second-grade classroom exemplified a family-like support system throughout the entire challenge, ensuring each student’s effort was appreciated.

“We are a family broken up into little teams,” Mrs. Bergan explained, a motto this classroom stands by with each challenge they take on.