After putting in incredible effort on their iLearn testing, students in Mr. Ridlen's 4th-grade class at Dillsboro Elementary School took time to celebrate kindness in a meaningful way. Given just 35 minutes, they worked in small groups to create five individual kindness chains, each filled with positive messages about themselves, others, and the world around them. When they joined their chains together, they formed an impressive 66-foot-long kindness chain—a powerful visual reminder of how small acts of kindness can come together to create something truly impactful. Messages ranged from heartfelt affirmations like “I love this about myself” to words of appreciation such as “I like this person’s personality” and “I love my dog.” Their kindness stretched farther than ever—literally!

Ms. Weinbender’s first-grade class at Dillsboro Elementary put their 3D shape knowledge to the test with the Paper Tower Challenge! Students explored why engineers choose specific shapes for structures, analyzing real-world examples like bridges.
Using just one sheet of cardstock and eight inches of tape, they built towers designed to support a stack of books. Many opted for a single cylinder, but when Ms. Weinbender demonstrated how three short cylinders could hold her entire body weight, the class was amazed. This sparked a lively discussion on strength, stability, and the power of design choices in engineering!

Creativity came to life in Mrs. Ewald’s class at Dillsboro Elementary School as students designed and painted vibrant, one-of-a-kind robots in preparation for their upcoming robot dance party! This engaging art project allowed students to explore design principles, refine fine motor skills, and express their creativity while building anticipation for the event. Who knew robots could be so artistic?

Students in Ms. Weinbender’s 1st grade class put their knowledge of 3-dimensional shapes to the test. The class discussed why certain objects were made out of one 3D shape versus another. Students were also shown examples of bridges and the shapes engineers had chosen to support the structure’s weight. In the end, Ms. Weinbender assigned them the Paper Tower Challenge. For this, students were given one sheet of cardstock and 8 inches of scotch tape to make a structure that would support a tower of books. Many students chose to make a singular cylinder support. When Ms. Weinbender showed them how the thickness and added strength of three short cylinders held her entire body weight, students were more than amazed and launched a discussion of why the difference in their choice vs hers made all the difference!

Quick thinking was essential in Mrs. Piche’s sixth-grade class at Dillsboro Elementary School during her "5-Second Rule" activity. Students read texts, formed quick hypotheses about their meaning, and then analyzed their true purpose. This engaging exercise strengthened their reading comprehension, critical thinking, and analytical skills, helping them develop deeper connections with the material.