Eastside Elementary 5th graders are discovering that the future of STEM and healthcare may be closer than they think.
Under the guidance of CS and STEM teacher Ms. Magargal, students recently designed and programmed fully functional robotic hand models as part of their 5th grade Computer Science curriculum. Using straws for bones, wires for nerves, strings for tendons and ligaments, tape for skin, and servo motors to power movement, students engineered hands capable of opening and closing their fingers.
But building was only the beginning.
Students programmed micro:bits to control their robotic designs, troubleshooting and refining their work just like professional engineers. When challenges arose, they analyzed problems, adjusted their coding, and tried again—developing perseverance alongside technical skills.
This work is rooted in standards-based learning, where students demonstrate mastery of clearly defined Computer Science, engineering, and problem-solving standards. Rather than learning skills in isolation, students apply academic content through authentic, hands-on experiences that require critical thinking, collaboration, creativity, and resilience. By embedding rigorous standards into real-world applications, students deepen their understanding while building transferable skills that extend far beyond the classroom.
To connect classroom innovation with real-world application, students toured Cody Regional Health’s Surgical Services Department, including the Robotic Surgery Division. There, they saw firsthand how surgeons program robotic systems to perform life-saving and life-changing procedures.
During the visit, students learned what happens behind the scenes in an operating room, how surgical teams prepare for procedures, and how advanced technology enhances patient care every day. The parallels between their classroom robotics projects and the hospital’s cutting-edge surgical systems were both exciting and eye-opening.
This experience directly supports the 5th grade Computer Science curriculum, where students explore coding, robotics, drones, and emerging technologies. Seeing how similar programming principles power both their robotic hand prototypes and real surgical robots helped students understand how today’s classroom learning can shape tomorrow’s careers.
Experiences like this reflect the Park 6 Purpose in action:
“Park 6 prepares graduates to chart their own course through learning experiences that equip them with the knowledge, skills, and resilience to discover their unique path to success.”
By combining standards-based instruction with meaningful Career Connections, students are not only mastering academic content—they are discovering possibilities. They are gaining the knowledge to understand complex systems, the skills to design and program solutions, and the resilience to persevere through challenges.
Cody Regional Health’s team generously took time to answer questions, demonstrate equipment, and inspire curiosity in the next generation of innovators. Introducing students to careers in healthcare and wellness is one meaningful way the organization continues investing in the future of the community.
From designing robotic hands in the classroom to exploring robotic surgery in a real operating room, these 5th graders are experiencing Career Connections in action—proving that hands-on learning today can open doors to the careers of tomorrow.
The future of STEM and healthcare is bright—and it may very well be sitting in a 5th grade classroom.