This project aims to bridge storytelling and engineering by allowing students to explore and animate the imaginations of elementary students through hands-on creation of automatas. By integrating simple machines and mechanical movements, students will deepen their understanding of both narrative elements and engineering principles. The project fosters collaboration, creativity, and critical thinking, as students engage in iterative design processes and reflect on their learning journey. Through community engagement and feedback, students will refine their designs and gain insights into how their creations bring stories to life.

Students will develop skills in mechanical engineering by designing and constructing automatas that incorporate simple machines. They will enhance their storytelling abilities by translating elementary students' imaginative scenes into interactive, mechanical displays. Through peer feedback and reflection, students will improve their ability to critically assess and revise their work, fostering self-directed learning and collaboration.

Throughout the project, students will create interactive automata that depict key scenes from the class book, integrating simple machines to animate the elementary students' imaginations. Each automata will serve as a physical representation of the elementary students' favorite parts of the story, allowing for a tangible connection between storytelling and engineering. By the end of the project, students will have completed their automata and presented them during an exhibition day, showcasing their understanding of both narrative and mechanical design.

Begin the project with a visit from a professional puppeteer or mechanical artist who demonstrates how storytelling can be brought to life through movement and mechanics. The guest can showcase various automatas and puppets, explaining the engineering behind each creation. Students will then participate in a hands-on workshop where they experiment with basic mechanical components, sparking their curiosity and setting the stage for their own creative automata designs.

Students will host an interactive exhibition day at the elementary school, where they will read the class book alongside the elementary students, using their automatas to bring key scenes to life. The exhibition will include stations where students demonstrate the mechanics behind their automatas, allowing elementary students and parents to engage with the storytelling and engineering elements. This event will serve as a celebration of the collaboration between the seventh graders and elementary students, showcasing the creativity and engineering skills developed throughout the project.