two elementary students coding

These "lil' engineers" are getting a taste of this particular Career and Technology Education program at Philip Simmons High this week.

The high school's robotics students are leading a weeklong Lil' Engineers Camp for rising first through fifth graders.

Students do an activity at the beginning of each camp session highlighting a branch of engineering; Monday was structural, so students made towers out of toothpicks and marshmallows. Tuesday's session will focus on kinematic engineering with ball launchers made of cardboard. Students will participate in a chemical flame lab and airplanes later in the week.

Campers are also coding with a different Scratch activity every day, and they will also have the opportunity to drive the high school robotics team's robot.

The last portion of every day this week will be spent on students working on a week-long design project where they will build a boat to hold as many quarters as they can on Friday.

Philip Simmons High's robotics and engineering programs are led by engineering teacher Kate Sablotsky.