STEM and Sails: Villa Angela-St. Joseph High School’s Second Annual Regatta

Guided by Art teacher Mrs. Goldberg, Villa Angela-St. Joseph High School’s 3D design students blended mathematics, teamwork, and recycled materials to construct themed vessels for a successful and spirited Second Annual Viking Regatta on Lake Erie.

Mrs. Goldberg’s 3D classes ended the school year by creating a vessel to compete in the annual regatta. Students in each class had to determine who would be the riders in their boat. Then came the use of their math skills to determine the area required to support their riders' weight. This incorporated trigonometry and geometry. 

The class voted on a theme, and each student created their own draft of what they thought the boat would look like. The class voted on the design that they liked the most. In one instance, a class combined two ideas. Once the design was chosen, the students began creating their vessels using recycled materials.

The boats, named the SS Constitution, the SpongeBob Boat, and the Banana Split Boat, were taken to Wildwood Park and launched next to many surprised boaters out for a beautiful day on Lake Erie.

Off to the races . . . .

There was some fierce competition - fueled by the late addition of boat paddlers made up of VASJ faculty members to complement our student captains. The boats were all intact at the end of many races, and all were politically named winners!

Many thanks to VASJ 3D Design faculty member Patricia Goldberg for leading her students in a class full of mathematics, design skills, creative ideas, collaboration, and a ton of Gorilla Duct Tape!  

Update sent by Cristine Nahra and Anna Kennedy,

Villa Angela-St. Joseph High School, Cleveland, OH