Feature Stories
Soap Box Derby
Learning at high speed
Erica Berger
Jennifer Aiello, a teacher at PS 22 on Staten Island, helps a 3rd-grader get into her car.
Four years ago, science teacher Pat Lockhart was looking for a new way to teach simple machines to her 3rd-graders at PS 57 on Staten Island. She did it by utilizing something that’s been around since 1934. “I was talking about building go-carts from my childhood,” she explained. “So I went online and found the website for the All-American Soap Box Derby.”
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Erica Berger
Racers speed down the track.
These days, the Soap Box Derby is not just a staple at her school, but is spreading to others across New York City, as teachers are using the connected curriculum to help teach science, technology, engineering and math as well as develop critical thinking, problem solving, collaboration and team building skills — all while having fun. “The race is a culmination of the program,” Lockhart said of the June 10 event at the Petrides School complex on Staten Island, where some 80 cars built by students representing 40 schools competed for six spots in the national event this July in Akron, Ohio.
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Erica Berger
Spectators and competitors say the Pledge of Allegiance during the opening ceremony.
One of those schools was IS 34 on Staten Island, which was introduced to the program when its faculty visited PS 57. “You can see how the program has carried over for our students to science class, where they have a better understanding of a pulley system, for example,” STEM teacher Michael Russo said. “But it also helps develop camaraderie and school spirit.” Russo said IS 34’s Soap Box program is an after-school activity for 6th-graders in the school’s Workshop Wednesdays.
Lockhart noted the importance of precision in building the cars. “If you deviate from the proper way of putting it together,” she said, “you can cost yourself precious seconds that can cost you the race. If your measurements aren’t perfect, for example, you could put the axles in crooked and the car would drive crooked.” Cars don’t run with a motor, but by coasting downhill using “gravity and aerodynamics,” Lockhart explained.
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Erica Berger
Teacher Alexandra Giordano of IS 34 on Staten Island discusses strategy with students.
The event featured a Staten Island competition in the morning and New York City races in the afternoon. Next year, Lockhart said, some boroughs are planning to stage their own events.