Fort Myers 5th Graders Build Ziggurats with Marble Runs

Fifth graders in Mrs. Dexter’s History class at a Fort Myers school recently brought ancient history to life. They designed and built their own ziggurats, complete with integrated marble runs.

The project combined lessons on the ancient Sumerians with hands-on STEM challenges. Students applied their understanding of historical architecture while engineering functional marble runs within their ziggurat models. This activity encouraged problem-solving and teamwork.

Groups competed to see whose marble traveled the farthest within their structure. Successful designs earned bonus points, adding an engaging layer to the learning process.

The project connected historical knowledge with practical application in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Students learned how ancient civilizations approached complex construction and how modern principles can be applied to innovation.