Building the Future, One Blueprint at a Time

Our Junior and Senior Kindergartners love shopping toy store shelves…but not as much as they love designing and constructing their own, one-of-a-kind creations! 

Earlier this spring, our littlest Turkeys brought their engineering design ideas to life as the Junior and Senior Kindergarten classes filled the Early Childhood halls with energy, imagination, and plenty of cardboard for the annual St. Mary’s Tinker Fair.

The Tinker Fair isn’t just a craft day. It’s the culmination of weeks of planning and building that our youngest students look forward to. This year, each girl came in with a clear idea of what she wanted to create, whether it was a dream structure, a new invention, or gifts for loved ones.

Their imaginations led the way. First, each JK and SK student sketched their idea in a blueprint. Then, with the help of a 4th- or 5th-grade buddy, they shopped for the necessary materials and worked together to bring their design to life.

North Campus Science & STEAM teacher Carrie Ruhland sees the impact of those partnerships every year.

“It’s amazing to watch,” she said. “The older girls don’t just help. They encourage, they problem-solve, and they celebrate the younger girls’ wins,” she said.

The room buzzed with teamwork. Of course, not everything went perfectly on the first try. Some towers leaned a little too far, some simple machines didn’t run smoothly, and some of the carefully planned blueprints ended up being completely rewritten halfway through—but that was the point. By the time the glue dried, every project told a story of a girl who stuck with it and had something she was genuinely proud of.

The real magic of the Tinker Fair, though, is the level of trust put in the girls. Flimsy, plastic tools were nowhere to be found; instead, these students used real hammers, actual screwdrivers, and sturdy materials. Of course, safety is always the top priority and taught before the students even pick up a tool. 

For Christina Block, Head of Early Childhood, that distinction is everything.

“There’s something powerful about handing a girl a real tool and saying, ‘You can do this,’” Block said. “It builds confidence in a way that’s hard to replicate. They take their work seriously because they know the tools are serious.”

The 4th and 5th grade buddies were one of the elements that made the day so special. Fresh off hosting their own Maker Fair before spring break, these older students arrived ready to jump in, shared their own "expert" tips, and cheered on their younger partners every step of the way.

By the end of the day, the room was full of creative projects that reflected each girl’s personality and effort. More importantly, it was full of pride and persistence that will carry far beyond Early Childhood.

“It’s truly a lesson in resilience. The younger girls really start to understand that if something doesn’t work the first time, that’s okay. They just try again,” said Mrs. Ruhland.

With a blueprint in one hand and a hammer in the other, our littlest engineers proved that the best creations are the ones you dream up yourself.