Students from across the Devonport Peninsula gathered at Takapuna Grammar School for a vibrant, hands-on STEAM event that brought creativity, engineering, teamwork, and problem-solving to life. Learners from Bayswater School, Vauxhall School, Belmont Primary, Devonport Primary, Belmont Intermediate, and Takapuna Grammar joined forces for a full day of design thinking and physics exploration through one shared challenge: to design and build a Christmas-themed marble run. As the final cross-school event organised through the Peninsula Kāhui Ako—soon to conclude as part of national education changes—it was also a special celebration of the connections and collaborative learning fostered through the initiative.
The day began with an energetic welcome in the TGS sports hall before students were placed into mixed-school groups of three or four. Each team included a Year 8 leader and a supportive Year 10 helper, creating a rich environment where younger students were guided through technical challenges while older students strengthened their coaching and leadership skills. This collaborative structure set the tone for a day of STEAM learning that blended science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics in meaningful and exciting ways.
Students were introduced to the physics concepts behind marble runs—gravity, friction, kinetic energy, and potential energy—and discussed how these forces would influence their designs. This quick lesson laid the foundation for scientific inquiry as groups moved into planning, sketching, and testing early ideas. With access to a variety of building materials, students explored the engineering design process: imagining solutions, prototyping, testing, refining, and trying again.
From mid-morning to lunch, classrooms and the hall transformed into buzzing maker spaces. Teams brainstormed designs, negotiated ideas, and used trial and error to solve problems. They calculated slopes, tested angles, and reinforced structures, all while integrating creative, festive elements that showcased the “A” in STEAM. Snow-covered tunnels, candy-cane curves, starry chutes, and jingling bell ramps emerged as students experimented with how form and function work together. The process encouraged critical thinking, perseverance, and innovation—skills at the heart of STEAM education.
After a break for lunch on the field, students returned to make final adjustments to their builds. The last stage of the engineering cycle demanded efficient teamwork as groups fine-tuned their marble runs, troubleshooting areas where marbles slowed down or stopped and ensuring their final designs could move a ball smoothly from start to finish. Year 10 helpers played a key role during this stage, supporting younger students as they tested and problem-solved under time pressure.
The day concluded back in the sports hall, where each team showcased their marble run and received feedback from Mr. Reinecke of Takapuna Grammar School. Students proudly demonstrated their creations, explaining how they applied physics concepts, design thinking, and creative problem-solving throughout the build. The room filled with excitement as marbles zipped down ramps, spiralled through tunnels, or jingled their way through festive obstacles. The sharing session highlighted the depth of learning that emerges when STEAM principles are explored through hands-on, collaborative projects.
This final Peninsula Kāhui Ako event demonstrated the power of STEAM learning to inspire curiosity, build confidence, and connect students across schools and year levels. By combining science, creativity, and teamwork, the marble-run challenge offered students a memorable experience that celebrated innovation and the joy of learning through doing.
A big congratulations to Linda Sew Hoy and the wider Devonport- Takapuna Kāhui Ako team for organising such an impressive event. Mahi tika ana!
