“How could your favorite downtown Columbus building be reimagined for the future?”

That’s the question teachers asked the fifth-graders in each of Bartholomew Consolidated School Corporation’s 35 STEM classrooms during the run-up to their project for this year’s exhibition. The teachers told their students about Exhibit Columbus and asked them what they knew about their city—what types of buildings and exhibits make up the place where they live? From there, the students did research about their hometown and finally went downtown on a field trip to see for themselves.  

To teach her students about collaboration and the Yes And theme, Davida Harden, STEM teacher at W.D. Richards Elementary School and the STEM project adviser, passed around a piece of paper. One person wrote down an idea and gave it to the next, each adding to the original concept. 

Students mentioned Zaharakos Ice Cream Parlor as a building they knew, but they didn’t want to change it. Another idea was to turn Central Middle School into a mall, with each classroom serving as a locally owned specialty shop. They presented their ideas to the entire class, and one was chosen to move forward. 

After that, the kids brainstormed and sketched out their ideas before using engineering software to find out what they wanted their project to look like. From there, they learned how to use Tinkercad, a computer-animation software. They made a 3-D model of what they had drawn in order to determine what they wanted to put into their spaces, such as miniature pieces of furniture and people.

Harden explained that this was a situation where not everybody at the table had to agree, but everyone would have a part in the final display. Each project is unique, she told them, and every person in the class gave a little spark of themselves toward making it a success. Each of the pieces they ultimately built is 18 inches long by 12 inches wide by 10 inches deep. 

“We are not only introducing a STEM component, but we are bringing in an architecture piece and the community service piece, as well,” Harden said. “I want our students to walk away knowing that they have opportunities that go beyond just a simple project. We try to target how can we be involved not only in school but in the community, how can we partner with different entities throughout the community to play a key role. There is so much for them to partake in. If they have a dream, it doesn’t have to be squashed. If it can be imagined, it can actually come to fruition.” 

The models are being exhibited in eight downtown storefronts for easier viewing. Harden said the variety of ideas and prototypes they developed is amazing. 

“When you give kids the opportunity to show their creativity, they will blow your mind with what they come up with,” she said. “My part as a STEM teacher is just to open the doors to them so they can think of architecture as a possible career. We want them to see that they’re not limited to what they already know or what somebody in the family already is. Whatever career they are interested in, they could potentially go into that field.”

She said the district’s 10 STEM teachers have been so excited to be a part of Exhibit Columbus, and they have passed that excitement on to their students. After the 2024–25 school year, Harden stepped down as the STEM Project Coordinator, and passed the role on to two of the district's STEM teachers, Allison Meyer and Ashley Toler. 

“Whenever the kids can take ownership of an idea, it truly does pay off,” Harden said. “I want to thank everyone who thought to include us.”