Stacking Up Success: Kindergarten Engineers Rise to the Challenge

Recently in the STEAM Lab, Miss Mace’s kindergarten class took on an exciting hands-on challenge—cup stacking! What looked like simple play quickly turned into a powerful learning experience that blended creativity, teamwork, and problem-solving.

Students worked both independently and with partners to build the tallest towers they could, experimenting with different strategies to balance and support their structures. As they carefully placed each cup, they practiced fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and spatial reasoning—key skills for early learners.

The activity also offered opportunities for math and science exploration, as students discovered concepts like size, balance, and gravity in action. Through trial and error, they refined their designs and learned that sometimes, the best solutions come from trying again and thinking differently.

Just as importantly, the activity fostered cooperation and communication. Students took turns, shared ideas, and cheered each other on—learning that collaboration makes every tower a little stronger.

By the end of the lesson, Miss Mace’s young engineers had done far more than stack cups—they had stacked up skills in creativity, critical thinking, and perseverance. It was a day full of discovery, laughter, and learning in the STEAM Lab!

Kindergarten students showing off their stacked cup tower
Students making different shapes out of stacked cups
Kindergarten students sitting at a table stacking plastic cups
Students sitting around a table with stacks of plastic cups