Glenwood Junior High eighth-grade science students are seeing physics in action — thanks to a giant, homemade trebuchet that brings classroom concepts to life!

The project began last year when science teacher Mrs. Frost attended a workshop featuring Youngstown State University engineering students who built giant trebuchets. Inspired by the engineering and hands-on learning, she teamed up with colleagues Mrs. Metzel and Mr. Geffert to bring a similar experience to Glenwood.

The teachers pitched their idea to the Boardman Schools Fund for Educational Excellence (BSFEE) and earned a teacher grant to purchase the necessary supplies. After months of designing and planning, Mr. Geffert built the trebuchet over the summer and has continued fine-tuning it ever since.

On October 12, students headed outside to watch the massive machine launch basketballs and pumpkins of various sizes, observing how the mass of each object affected its flight and distance. Back in the classroom, students have been building their own small-scale catapults and will use observations from both experiments to deepen their understanding of physics and engineering principles.

It's project-based learning at its best — combining creativity, collaboration, problem-solving and real-world science in an unforgettable experience.

For these Glenwood students, this is more than a science lesson. It's the kind of hands-on learning they may remember long after graduation!