Sixth-grade students at Shaler Area Elementary School are leveraging their imaginations to make the world a better place. Students are tasked with taking a board game and adapting it in a way to support making it easier for an individual with a disability or difficulties with their fine motor skills.

Students turned their ideas into realities, using 3D software to design and create prototypes in the school’s MakerSpace with their science teacher Mrs. Weber and math teacher Mrs. Gurekovich. Students modified a Sorry! board to support a person with vision limitations and modified Connect Four to support an easier method to picking up game pieces. Students worked in ELA classes with Mrs. Miller to create boards advertising their product. School staff will select their favorite product based on the presentations and the winning group will move on to the Design to Make a Difference Competition in May.

Design to Make a Difference is a Maker-Ed outreach program that helps schools build out their programs by providing access to Maker-Ed equipment and professional development. The D2MD program is centered on using these tools to create products that help people, ensuring those exposed to this technology see the power it has to better the lives of people.