What does your middle school child learn at school? While most of them learn English and Math, things are different at McClintock Middle School in east Charlotte. Sixth-grade learners at this school are utilizing 3D printers to deal with real-world issues.
In their recent project dubbed Lead the Way, the learners were given the task to help a two-year-old child. The child was born with Kubaki disorder.
The concept for this plan all started Ben Davis, design and modeling tutor saw the ailing child, Emmett Hightshoe. She was at Greg Olsen’s The Heartest Yard 5K with her family. Davis said that he recognized the demand that someone was following her with a bag holding the container.
“I thought, ‘That’s something that 3D printing and 6th graders could accomplish so her parents don’t have to follow her around the house all the time,’” said Davis.
The child’s mom, Maleigh Hightshoe, stated that apart from her hereditary diagnosis, the girl also has a section of a heart.
“She also with her genetic diagnosis, unfortunately, came along half a heart. Its Hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS),” her mom said. “It just comes with a little extra equipment for us on a daily basis, she’s on oxygen 24/7.”
The mom mentioned that she and the father often place the oxygen reservoir in a bag and carry it just about. However, the tank is weighty and limits the girl’s freedom of moving around freely by herself.
“Even sometimes if she’s just scooting and the oxygen is sitting there and I don’t know she’s scooting I’ll hear an ‘Ah’ and I’m like, ‘Oh yeah, I need to move that for you,’” Hightshoe said. “It will really allow her to gain that independence that she wants to grasp so badly.”
Throughout the whole semester, the learners worked in teams printing, designing, examining their models. These are the models that would give the 2-year-old her freedom.
Most of the students created oxygen reservoir holders that snip onto Emmett’s walker.
The 6th-grade tutor stated that the learners took the project seriously, “really thinking about mathematics and the science and just getting to it and designing some really incredible things.”
This past Friday, the learners gave their prints to Hightshoe so she can pick one to utilize on Emmett’s walker.
This is an inspiring day for the learners. They have learned a life-lesson. The girl will experience a life change from now on.
“It was amazing being able to help someone,” one of the students said. “Not only getting the education but being able to help someone with it too.”
Davis states that he is currently searching for his following outline. He mentioned they do a fresh one every semester. Davis also urges everyone in society with an opinion, to get in touch with him.
