What does it take to build a Titan? In Shannon Romeo’s classroom at Shaler Area Middle School, the answer turned out to be equal parts math, teamwork, and grit.

Students recently took on a hands-on challenge that asked them to engage with proportional reasoning in a whole new way. Working from the Shaler Area Titan logo, each student was responsible for scaling one part of the design. That meant thinking carefully about ratios and measurements, because every piece had to grow by the same proportion for the final image to come together correctly.

The real test came when it was time to assemble the pieces. Lines needed to meet, and shapes needed to match from one section to the next. When something did not line up, students went back to their calculations, talked through their thinking with classmates, and tried again. That perseverance and determination carried them through, and the activity empowered them to take ownership of both their own work and the success of the group.

The finished product is something the whole class can be proud of: a design that encapsulates what it means to be a Titan. It is also a reminder that when students work together and refuse to give up, they excel.