Mahopac High School Earth and Space Science students are getting a new way to explore the natural world thanks to an interactive sandbox recently introduced by science and NYS Master Teacher Robert D’Alessandro.
The hands-on tool allows students to shape sand to create mountains, rivers, valleys and volcanoes while projected images respond in real time. As students move the sand, landscapes change instantly, helping them visualize concepts such as erosion, weathering, water flow and land formation in an engaging and tangible way.
“We are very fortunate to have this exciting technology here at Mahopac High School,” D’Alessandro said. “It fits perfectly with New York State’s new Earth and Space Science curriculum and allows students to learn about processes like erosion and groundwater flow by using their own hands.”
Several students played a key role in bringing the sandbox to life. Juniors Justin Bayne, Bobby Egan and Sullivan Hunter, along with sophomore Jack Egan, spent multiple afternoons after school helping assemble the table and learning how it works. They also demonstrated the technology, showing how small changes in the sand can create dramatic changes in the projected landscape.
The interactive nature of the sandbox encourages curiosity and collaboration, allowing students to experiment, ask questions and immediately see the results of their ideas. By combining creativity with scientific exploration, the tool provides an exciting, memorable way for students to deepen their understanding of Earth science concepts.
