March Monthly Mentors

On March 6th, Cal Poly SWE held our March Monthly Mentor volunteer event at Sanchez Elementary School. Four volunteers visited three fourth-grade classrooms to introduce students to mechanical engineering through hands-on activities.

Volunteers began by talking with the students about what engineers do and how mechanical systems work in everyday life. After the discussion, the fourth graders used paper, cardboard, straws, skewers, and plastic bottle caps to create wind powered cars. They worked together in teams, and experimented with different configurations while learning the basics of the engineering design process.

The classrooms were full of excitement as students asked questions, helped each other troubleshoot, and celebrated when their cars went the fastest. It was encouraging to see how quickly they learned and how engaged they were throughout the activity.

Cal Poly SWE is grateful to our volunteers for making this outreach possible, and we are proud to bring fun and meaningful STEM experiences to local schools each month. We are looking forward to our next Monthly Mentor visit in April.