This 2-hour STEAM program for 2nd-grade students uses building materials to turn abstract feelings into visible, physical structures. Through sketching and construction, children learn basic engineering principles like balance and symmetry to represent different moods. The project develops emotional awareness and empathy as students share personal stories and listen to their peers’ experiences. Working in small groups strengthens flexibility and problem-solving, as teams must adapt their designs to work with recycled materials. The activity concludes with presentations and reflection, helping students build confidence in communicating complex emotions through art and design.

Brief description of the STEAM program

Children often struggle to express their feelings verbally, but they might build a messy room when feeling chaotic, or a tall tower when excited. This STEAM program transforms that intuitive language into a shared, conscious process. The challenge: “Can we build something that represents how we feel?” arises from their lived experience and gives them the tools to make emotions visible and discussable.

Age group/ Grade	Student numbers	Duration	Number of stages	Subject(s)
2nd grade students	Whole class in groups of 3–4 students	minimum 120 minutes	7 stages	natural sciences, arts, mathematics, design and technology, language and literacy