Mars Area Centennial School sixth-graders are putting the finishing touches on a 13-hole miniature golf course that they are designing and constructing in their STEAM classes.

In each class, the students divided into eight groups, each of which was tasked with designing a different obstacle for a single hole of the course. The sixth-graders then joined in a whole-class, round-table discussion to plan out the obstacles, which had to fit together with a cohesive theme on the course, before they started building.

“(Working) together as a class as well as in small groups is an essential skill for the future workforce” says Chris Churilla, STEAM teacher, noting that the students had to call upon their measurement skills, including measuring angles, a key aspect of the engineering and design challenge.

In their physical education classes, both sixth- and fifth-graders are learning about golf as well as proper putting techniques and game etiquette. All students will have an opportunity to test out the miniature golf course at the school’s Art & STEAM Showcase, to be held from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 2.

The event will also offer a display of artworks and projects created by fifth- and sixth-graders in their art and STEAM classes. For more information, call (724) 625-2601.