With school out for the summer, it's the perfect time to spotlight the great work that happened last school year. Oakview Elementary Principal Aaron Smith shares about the engaged collaboration and critical thinking happening in their building. 

Oakview Elementary’s third-grade students recently partnered with the University of Dayton Research Institute (UDRI) for the third annual Wind Turbine Engineering Project, providing students with a hands-on opportunity to explore science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) concepts.

Throughout the project, students worked alongside engineers from UDRI and students from the Fairmont High School Career Technical Center (CTC) program to learn about wind energy and the engineering design process. Each student designed their own wind turbine blades, carefully considering how blade shape and structure could impact performance.

After the design phase, UDRI engineers and Fairmont CTC students brought the designs to life using 3D printing technology. Once the blades were printed, Oakview students tested their turbines and analyzed the results, gaining valuable insight into renewable energy and real-world engineering practices.

This unique learning experience highlights the strong partnership between Oakview Elementary, UDRI, and the Fairmont High School CTC program. Together, these organizations continue to provide meaningful STEM opportunities that inspire students to think creatively, solve problems, and explore future career pathways.