At Cleveland Tigers, students in the STEM, Robotics, and Drafting class are embracing creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving in a dynamic learning environment. With a curriculum designed to engage and challenge, this course offers a unique mix of hands-on activities and cutting-edge technology that excites students about the possibilities of science, engineering, and design. Led by CHS Alumni Denton Wilson, this class content and materials is paired with his real world drafting and engineering experience.

Student Perspectives: What Makes This Class Special?

When asked about their favorite aspects of the class, students shared enthusiastic responses:

• “I like that it’s creative and you get to have teammates.”
• “It was fun to build battle bots.”
• “Building the robots.”

These sentiments highlight the class’s emphasis on teamwork and innovation, fostering a space where students can explore their interests while working together on exciting projects.

Fall Semester Highlights

Fundamentals of CADD: Students began by mastering the basics of drafting, both by hand and with AutoCAD software. This foundation culminated in creating a detailed floor plan for the school, blending traditional techniques with modern tools.

Engineering Essentials: Engaging activities like building rubber band cars and bean bag catapults allowed students to explore the principles of motion and design.

Robotics Engineering: From playful competition to simulated space missions, the fall semester offered a range of robotics challenges:

• Team Freeze Tag: Students built and programmed Basebots capable of freezing when tagged in a two-on-two game.
• Robot Soccer: Using Clawbots, students played soccer matches, emphasizing precision and control.
• Mars Rover Project: Inspired by interplanetary exploration, students designed and built clawbots to pick up and transport rocks of varying sizes for analysis.
• Bucky Basketball: Combining engineering and sports, students built Catapultbots to shoot bucky balls into a small basketball hoop.

Spring Semester Adventures

The excitement continues this spring with an even deeper dive into engineering and robotics.

Fundamentals of CADD: Students are expanding their skill set with 3D modeling software like Inventor and exploring 3D printing concepts and applications. The ability to create and print prototypes takes their designs from digital concepts to tangible creations.

Engineering Essentials: New projects include:

• Constructing a five-foot trebuchet capable of launching tennis balls over 200 feet.
• Exploring electromagnetism by building electric motors and generators.
• An introduction to basic circuits and their applications.

Robotics Engineering: The robotics curriculum grows more advanced with:

• Learning block and Python coding.
• Programming robots for autonomous driving.
• Adding sensors to robots to enhance functionality and versatility.

The Future of Innovation

Don’t Miss Out: Join the STEM, Robotics, and Drafting Adventure!

It’s not too late to be part of this exciting journey! If you’re a student or parent interested in these courses, contact the school counselor immediately upon returning from holiday break to learn how to enroll. These classes offer hands-on learning and opportunities to explore cutting-edge technology while building skills that last a lifetime.

This course embodies the Cleveland Tigers’ commitment to preparing students for the future. By blending creativity with technical skills, STEM, Robotics, and Drafting inspire students to think critically, work collaboratively, and dream big. Whether they’re building battle bots or 3D printing prototypes, students leave with knowledge and experiences that will serve them well in any path they choose.