Edgewood Students Make Floatation Device For Second-Grader
Edgewood Students Make Floatation Device For Second-Grader
Posted
Jackie Gorski-jgorski@timesuniononline.com
Edgewood Students Make Floatation Device For Second-GraderStudents from Edgewood Middle School presented an Eisenhower Elementary second-grader with a flotation device Friday.
Abbi Richcreek, Project Lead the Way teacher at Edgewood, said creating the device for Addy Hausmann was part of a project for her student project management team class, “which is our homeroom, but I’ve made it into more of an exploration class.” This is the first time the homeroom class has done a project like this.
The purpose of the flotation device is so Addy can go into a swimming pool like everyone else.
The project came about when Addy’s mother, Elizabeth Hausmann, contacted Richcreek over the summer. Elizabeth gave Richcreek an overview of tentative plans Elizabeth had for the project. Richcreek was able to get the materials, which were sponsored by Medtronic.
One inertion of the flotation device was done by the students, with the help of Medtronic engineers. In September, Addy tested the device at the YMCA and it worked.
Friday, Richcreek said a second generation of the device was done because Addy wanted more connection with the water when she used the device. Area dentist Dr. Bill Stofer volunteered to help students with the second generation of the device.
Stofer said his son is a student in one of Richcreek’s classes and Richcreek reached out to him and he was able to come in and help out.
The flotation device is made of PVC pipe, pool noodles and a vest.
Richcreek said, instead of floating on top of the water, Addy can now float in the water.
Elizabeth said she is blown away by the dedication of the class and the first flotation device was great, but the only downside was Addy wasn’t in the water. She called the device amazing.
She said they’ve got family with pools and it will make it easier for Addy to use the pool instead of stay on the edge of the pool.
Stofer said he hoped students were able to learn how to help someone and gain knowledge of how things get put together. He’s a former lifeguard, his kids love water and anything he can do so more kids can have that experience, he’s willing to do. He said he hopes Addy is able to splash in the water and enjoy it.
Richcreek said students made a positive impact on someone else’s life and that’s the best result one could ask for.
She hopes students learned the first time they design something isn’t always going to see the best results and you can make it better with modifications.
