For the fifth year, Oxford High School’s CTE engineering pathway students have participated in a unique, hands-on project that bridges creativity and learning.

In collaboration with two kindergarten classes at Bramlett Elementary School, students in Charley Sabatier’s first-year engineering class have designed and 3D-printed custom train sets.

This project not only showcases the engineering students’ skills and innovative designs but also provides the kindergarten students with a fun, interactive learning experience – they even get to vote on which train set is their favorite.

Sabatier explained that this project was inspired by a time when his children were young and needed a connector piece for their toy train set. When he began teaching engineering, that idea evolved into a student project that focused on designing and 3D printing a similar piece that would be safe and free of choking hazards for young children.

“This project really allows the students to show their creativity in engineering,” Sabatier said. “They get to apply the skills they are learning in using the CAD software to design train toys they think the kindergarten class will enjoy playing with, are durable, and meet the constraints of our 3D printer capabilities.”