High School Students Turn Elementary Students’ Toy Ideas into Reality

Klein, Texas— What began as a simple STEM challenge at Fox Elementary turned into a hands-on learning experience that connected students across grade levels and disciplines.

First-grade teacher Anah Steagall introduced her students to a toy engineering project through the HMH Science curriculum, encouraging them to design their own toys using various materials. To take the learning a step further, Steagall, a Klein Oak alumna, reached out to Klein Oak High School Principal Thomas Hensley for help in bringing these designs to life.

High school students from multiple programs eagerly took on the challenge:

• Fashion Design II, led by Jill Reed, created plush toys using hand-sewing techniques.
• The Robotics Program, under Daniel Mackey, 3D-printed toys based on student drawings.
• The Welding Program, led by Michael Curtin, built metal vehicles, including an airplane, bus, and van.

On February 4, Steagall’s students were surprised with physical versions of their toy designs. The excitement was evident as they saw their ideas transformed into real, tangible creations.

“I really enjoyed today. It was very exciting,” said first-grader Alsi Baldwin. “My favorite part was getting my toy and meeting the person who made it. It felt like teamwork because we designed the toys, and the high school students made them real.”

This project not only reinforced STEM learning but also showcased the power of collaboration within Klein ISD, bridging elementary creativity with high school expertise in engineering, robotics, and design.

Fox & Klein Oak Toy Collaboration