English Teacher Hugh Schalkwyk

  Many of us lead hectic lifestyles. Whether it be working long hours in the office, looking after the kids, or trying to find a work-social life balance, being on the go 24/7 can take its toll on your feet. When it comes to finding the right pair of shoes, you must find some that keep you supported throughout the day.

  For women, in particular, many are torn with the dilemma of picking between a pair of heels, and a comfortable pair of sneakers. Understandably, this decision is made much easier depending on the occasion. One of the main benefits of sneakers is that they provide some much-needed support to your feet. If you’re known for doing vigorous activities like playing sports, high-impact exercise, or running, sneakers can provide you with more stability, especially when compared to any other type of shoe.

  Starting with the most basic, vocabulary, the learners had to research the importance of sneakers and the incredible importance of polymers in our everyday lives. With the research segment, the scholars acquire the fundamentals of the engineering that go into the design of the bottom or sole of sneakers and the support, cushioning, and traction they provide.

  Now having the base understanding of polymers and their usage, the learner’s project required them to construct a polymer and run it through a series of tests. Given a range of ingredients (borax, water, and Elmer’s glue), they had to mix and match their ingredients using different ratios to come up with a result that aligns with a range of predetermined criteria (How well their polymer could it stretch, window, ooze, and bounce). Although this sounds very challenging, the students get truly focus on creating one of the desired results which makes this an amazing results-driven project.

  The boundless amount of technology that goes into the design of sneakers instantaneously sinks in with the students. They not only realize all the factors that must be taken into consideration when designing sneakers, such as who will wear them (male, female, child) and for what types of activities but also the comfort and safety aspects.

  The students repeat their experiment several times trying to create and improve on their previous results as set out by the criteria above, well then it turns into a boatload of fun and a big mess in class. All and all great fun and a lot learned during the experiment.

  Finally, the teams share their project with the class. While this might prompt some anxiety in the learners, it’s a very important step in the process. Some find it discouraging, and others time to show off what they have learned. All and all, it ends up being a fun experience not only for the students but also for the teachers as they take great pride in their student’s accomplishments.