Quick Pix
Second-grade students in Jill Shall’s classroom at Memorial Elementary School in the Bethel Park School District are learning to develop a Growth Mindset through STEM Fairy Tales. The students read the fairy tale, “The Elf and the Shoemaker,” and discussed how the elf had a “growth mindset” and never gave up, yet the shoemaker had a “fixed mindset” and wanted to give up when all of the leather was gone for making shoes. Divided into groups of three, they were given felt, foil, cardboard, construction paper, masking tape, popsicle sticks, rubber bands, pipe cleaners, straws and scissors. Shall challenged the students to make a new shoe using only these items. They planned out their shoes by drawing a diagram first; they then started assembling, making adjustments along the way to ensure success. Showing off their shoes are from left: Sophia Andreola, Angelia Ankrom, Caden Powell, Eden Callen, Bella Nuovo and Aydin Sayer.