Sixth grade students in the PLTW Design and Modeling class are putting precision to the test as they dive into Lesson 1.3: Measuring Matters through the hands-on Skimmer Project. This engaging challenge tasks students with designing and modeling a functional skimmer device—where accurate measurements, careful calculations, and thoughtful adjustments make all the difference.

“As students work through this project, they quickly see that even the smallest measurement error can have a big impact on how a design performs,” said JPII science teacher, Anthony Rossillo. “Activities like this are vital because they teach students to think like engineers—testing ideas, learning from mistakes, and refining their designs. Those skills are essential not just in engineering, but in how students approach learning and problem-solving throughout their academic journey.”

By blending creativity with precision, the Skimmer Project strengthens critical thinking, reinforces the importance of accuracy, and gives students a real-world glimpse into the engineering design process—laying a strong foundation for future STEM learning and lifelong innovation.