Class 6 students have been hard at work designing and building their own mini golf holes as part of an innovative interdisciplinary project at Chapin.
First introduced by P.E. teacher Alex Holowach and now in its third year, the unit takes a full three weeks of the Class 6 physical education curriculum.
To begin, P.E. teachers guide students in learning how to use golf clubs, focusing on proper swing mechanics, putting techniques and understanding when to use different clubs. Students also practice disc golf using an official chain-based target system while learning to keep score and other concepts such as par, birdies and bogeys.
After completing their golf instruction, the students transition to working in The Hayot Center for Innovation (HCI), where they collaborate to design and construct functional mini golf holes. “We are always looking to expand our P.E. curriculum beyond the traditional sports model,” said Gregory Pinto, Head of the Middle School P.E. Department and Athletic Coach. “We look for ways to connect P.E. with other subjects and spaces in the Chapin community, while still being physically active.”
Under the guidance of Dr. Jon Olivera, Director of the HCI, the Class 6 students were encouraged to make full use of the available tools and materials, including paint, robotics components, saws and more.
This hands-on project challenged the girls to combine creativity and engineering principles. Students were encouraged to collaborate with their peers to create out-of-the-box designs, with the additional challenge of including a robotic component. Many groups incorporated interactive and mechanical features — one even had a functioning windmill.
On April 20, Class 6 came together in Gym 6 to showcase their hard work and finished projects for the community. “To see our P.E. curriculum come to life, and on full display under one roof, makes the work and process all worth it,” Mr. Pinto said.
Professional Community members and students had the opportunity to play every mini golf hole, experiencing firsthand the creativity and problem-solving that went into each design. “We are always looking for ways to improve our curriculum,” said Mr. Pinto. “We can’t wait to see what we add to this unit next year!”
