CIS Secondary | STEAM: Engineering and Design Thinking – Building Mini Carnival Floats

Secondary STEAM students completed a hands-on Carnival Float project focused on learning through making. The unit combined engineering, design, and problem solving as students built working mini floats from simple materials.

The project began with an exploration of festivals and celebrations. Students discussed how communities use floats to mark seasons and special events, helping them understand the purpose behind float design before beginning construction.

Students then learned how a basic mechanical and electrical system works. They explored how a battery, motor, crocodile clips, and gearbox connect to create motion. Students were introduced to gears and torque, learning how gears reduce speed and increase turning force. With this understanding, teams built a rolling chassis by measuring, fitting wheels, attaching axles, and installing the motor and battery box. Students tested wheel direction and corrected issues by switching crocodile clips when motors ran in reverse.

Once the chassis was working, design planning followed. Groups sketched float ideas and checked whether their designs were realistic using available materials. Students were encouraged to be resourceful, using recycled items found around the school such as cardboard boxes, Styrofoam, straws, and toothpicks. Some decorative elements were also 3D printed, allowing students tocombine digital design with hands-on construction.

As the floats took shape, students cut, shaped, glued, and assembled their designs. LED lights were added to enhance both appearance and function. The final results included carefully crafted and professional looking snowmen, wreaths, Christmas trees, campfires, smoke effects, Santa figures, and gift themed designs.

Each class held a float parade and race, where students gathered to cheer as each team tested their float. The atmosphere was filled with excitement and laughter as floats travelled forward, drifted, or occasionally bumped into walls. Finished floats were later sold at the Winter Festival, raising approximately 200 RMB.

The unit concluded with presentations, where students explained their projects from start to finish. They identified energy chains in their finished floats, including chemical, electrical, kinetic, light, sound, and heat energy, and reflected on what worked well and what they would improve next time. 

The finished winter themed floats are now on display in the hallway of the Design Academy Building.