The Dillingham Elementary Student Council is helping shape the Sherman community by creating original, kid-inspired designs for a proposed splash pad at Old Settlers Park.
“The final goal is to create something they and other kids will be able to experience,” said Jaime Thomasco, Dillingham Science, Technology, Art, Engineering and Math (STEAM) specialist. “They will be able to say they were a part of making something big.”
Students are exploring almost every aspect of designing a splash pad, from budget constraints to size requirements. Kimberli Brackett, consultant with Water&Play Expressions,aims to challenge the little architects. Her company met with the city of Sherman to propose designs for the splash pad, which includes interactive spray fountains and upright features for children to play in.
“Kids can play on a splash pad but probably don’t understand what all goes into the process, from design, manufacturing and most importantly the relationships that are built along the way with all of the people involved.” Brackett said. “This real life experience will allow these amazing students to see and be a part of the ins and outs of designing and installing a splash pad so they can fully understand the efforts going into it.”
The entire process involves the STEAM framework, Thomasco said. In early May, students used interactive design software to draft designs that varied in color and themes, and on Wednesday, they took a trip to Old Settlers Park to measure the proposed site, an innovative way to show the real-world applications of classroom math lessons.
“I use math all the time in my job, like measuring sites or making budgets for projects,” Brackett said. “To show them a real-life situation involving math is really engaging and important.”
Brackett reached out to Dillingham principal Steven Traw earlier in the year to see if she could involve some students in the design because Dillingham is closest to the park, and when Thomasco learned about the project, she jumped on the opportunity for their students to have this experience.
“This fell in line perfectly with STEAM,” Thomasco said. “I couldn’t have dreamt of a better STEAM project. It was such a good opportunity for my students to experience the entire process of a STEAM project.”
Brackett, a retired teacher, likes to include design input from kids whenever she can for her projects, and going to Dillingham was special for her, having last taught there.
“These splash pads are for kids, and what a better way for them to have a voice than to be involved in something significant and impactful for their community,” Brackett said. “I was thrilled when the principal and Jamie said “yes,” and it is really special for me to get to work with fifth graders again since my background was teaching fifth and sixth grade math.”
Once the final designs are finished, Brackett and the “Dillingham Designers” will take them to the city for review, and the city will decide if they want to proceed. Throughout the process, Brackett hopes the students not only practice classroom skills but pick up bits of knowledge, such as making the splash pad accessible to people with all abilities.
“Having exposure to something real that’s a part of almost every community adds to their education,” Brackett said. “It’s going to help them have an awareness of the world around them and prayerfully help equip them to be more involved in their communities when they’re adults.”
This is the first year of Student Council for fifth grader Lisa Matias, and she wants to do the best she can to provide something fun for the community and to prove herself.
“This can show that I can be a leader,” Matias said. “I can show my friends that I can do something big.”
By participating in the design process, Thomasco said the students should feel more invested in the splash pad and its use.
“If it’s built, the students will have some buy-in to take care of it,” Thomasco said. “They know much goes into a project, and helping design it gives them a piece of ownership.”
