Company Helps Fourth Grade Science Class Procure Robotics Kit to Learn About Engineering
ARLINGTON, Vt. (Nov. 13, 2019) – The fourth graders in Charlie Cummings’ Fisher Elementary School class are filled with a love of science, and members of the community along with Mack Molding are fostering their interest by funding the purchase of robotic blocks.
Fourth graders in Charlie Cummings Fisher Elementary School Class watch a Cubelets robot created by Mack Molding Engineering Team Leader Ann Weddell drive across the floor.
Mack Molding engineers Ann Wedell and Scott Rishell recently visited Cummings’ classroom with Mack Group Chief Financial Officer Florence Belnap to join students in opening the classroom’s newest teaching tools, called Cubelets. Cummings’ class raised money, including $1,796 from Mack, through DonorsChoose, which allows individuals to donate directly to public school classroom projects. While visiting Wedell and Rishell also discussed what they do at the leading custom plastics molder and supplier of contract manufacturing services, as well as how their love of science, engineering and learning helped shape who they are today.
“As a Company Mack has always been focused on making a difference in the communities where we have facilities by supporting access to high quality education and healthcare,” Belnap said. “Seeing the excitement on the students’ faces as they discovered the wonders of design and engineering was truly rewarding, and hopefully we have even inspired some future Mack employees!”
From left, Mack Molding Sr. Design Engineer Scott Rishell, Fisher Elementary School Fourth Grade Teacher Charlie Cummings, Mack Group Chief Financial Offer Florence Belnap, Mack Molding Engineering Team Leader Ann Wedell and Fisher Elementary School Principal Deanne Lacoste at the unveiling of new classroom materials designed to inspire interest in design and engineering.
According to the website of manufacturer Modular Robotics, Cubeletes harness of the power of play to help users explore big ideas like robotics and coding while teaching the value of problem-solving, persistence and communication. The devices will be integrated into the class’ MakerSpace style design center, as well as in a specific unit on engineering. According to Cummings, the ability to plan, manipulate, observe and redesign in real-time is an invaluable experience for students.
“Living in beautiful Southern Vermont our students have access to inspiring natural resources that really reinforce the biology, life science and earth science lessons they learn at school,” Cummings said. “Providing meaningful technology-related experiences can be more challenging, however, and Cubelets Robotic Blocks will meet that demand. By providing hands-on, flexible thinking activities, students will be able to explore the process of design and engineering, trial and error, data collecting, observation and critical thinking. They are a naturally curious class, and we are grateful to Mack and all our donors for feeding that curiosity.”
About Fisher Elementary School
Located in the southwest corner of Vermont, Fisher Elementary School is part of the Battenkill Valley Supervisory Union and offers a pre-kindergarten through grade five education to 220 students living in the communities of Arlington and Sandgate. As a community school, Fisher prides itself on students not getting lost in the shuffle and their ability to realize their full academic potential.
About Mack Molding
Mack Molding is a leading custom plastics molder and supplier of contract manufacturing services. Mack specializes in plastics design, prototyping, molding, sheet metal fabrication, full-service machining and medical device manufacturing. Founded in 1920, Mack is a privately owned business that operates 11 facilities throughout the world. Don Kendall is CEO and chairman. For more information, go to www.mack.com.
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