Known for her creative hydrologic and hydraulic project solutions, NTM Principal Rachel Tereska, MS, PE came up with a fun way to explain engineering to a class of first graders at Derry Township Elementary School on April 29. She talked about the types of projects that civil engineers work on and the places we see them in our communities. Rachel explained several basic bridge types and used some famous bridge examples from around the world.
In small groups, the first graders designed and built bridges using toothpicks and gumdrops, and then the bridges were tested. “It was exciting to share my passion for engineering and to observe their creativity and problem solving skills,” noted Rachel. “They had fun working in teams and seeing which bridge was the strongest!”