A.A. Gates Elementary students recently participated in The Hovercraft Project, an immersive, high-energy STEAM experience!

Throughout the five-hour hands-on workshop, students stepped into the roles of engineers, data analysts, and team leaders. Working in small groups, the students were tasked with designing, assembling, and testing full-scale rideable hovercrafts using everyday materials and leaf blowers while exploring the principles of friction, air pressure, and thrust.

The program went beyond traditional classroom learning by emphasizing real-world problem-solving, active collaboration, and resilience. Students calculated surface area, measured airflow, and conducted trial runs. The highlight of the day came when students took turns test-riding their finished hovercrafts in the gym.

By bringing science concepts to life, The Hovercraft Project provided Port Byron students with a memorable look at how classroom learning directly connects to real-world innovation, teamwork, and leadership.