Before the holiday break, high school students in Mr. Liguori’s Design and Drawing course partnered with fourth grade students in Ms. Utz’s class for a unique cross-grade engineering collaboration that brought creativity, technology and the Herricks 6 Cs together.

After learning how to transform 2D images into 3D objects using programs such as TinkerCAD, SolidWorks and Fusion 360, high school students applied their skills by designing personalized keychains for their younger peers. Acting as designers, they worked closely with fourth graders, who served as clients by sharing their ideas and feedback throughout the design process. Students communicated daily through a shared design space, revising and refining designs until they were ready for 3D printing.

The project highlighted compassion, collaboration and communication, as students listened thoughtfully, asked clarifying questions and supported one another’s creativity. High school students used critical thinking to translate ideas into functional designs, while fourth graders gained confidence seeing their ideas transformed into tangible products.

As a special finishing touch, the personalized keychains became meaningful holiday gifts – demonstrating how learning, kindness and innovation can come together to create something truly special.