21 Young Engineers. One Stadium Challenge.
On Day 1 of STEM Playbook’s Spring Break Camp, 21 students (ages 6–8) at three Cleveland recreation centers stepped into the role of Stadium Architects.
The session began with a "taped-out" stadium floor plan. Students were assigned Fan Roles—such as wheelchair users or grandparents—and tasked with navigating the space.
"Architects spend weeks interviewing fans before they draw anything. Today, YOU are going to BE those fans."
What followed was loud, physical, and genuinely insightful. Kids crawled through "entrances" that were too narrow for wheelchairs, raced toward exits that bottlenecked immediately, and debated where grandparents should sit to avoid long walks to the bathroom.
By physically testing the layout, they identified real-world accessibility issues, transforming "design" from an abstract concept into a tangible user-experience challenge.
Physics in Motion: The Power of Triangles
Once kids understood WHY stadiums need to be thoughtfully designed, it was time to understand HOW they stay standing.
To understand structural integrity, students compared the stability of rectangles versus triangles. After testing structural stability with "human triangles," students were challenged to build the tallest tower capable of supporting a book using only five cups and three sheets of paper.
By the Numbers
21 young engineers across Cleveland
3 recreation center locations
60 minutes of hands-on STEM learning per session
21 badges earned on Day 1
Playing with Purpose
STEM Playbook is designed for out-of-school settings where movement and play are essential. By the end of Day 1, students had functioned as Accessibility Consultants, Structural Engineers, and Architects.
What’s Next: Throughout this Spring Break week, these "Game Day Engineers" will tackle stadium operations, the physics of sound, and mascot design.
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