SAN DIEGO (KGTV) - A soapbox derby race is taking over the streets of Little Italy Saturday as part of Washington Elementary School's 3rd annual Van Go! S.T.E.A.M. Festival.
Not only are the kids getting introduced to engineering, but they're also incorporating art into the project.
"What they are learning inside the classroom has real-world applications, and they're able to take what they learned and get their hands on something and say, 'Ah ha!'" said event coordinator and volunteer William Sieve.
Sieve said the soapbox cars have come a long way over the decades and are more complex. The ones the students made have a shell, wood base and tires.
"It's fun to make the inside because it's a lot of parts. And you can put stuff together for yourself," said students Julius Moya. "I feel proud of myself that I made it."
The students put together 18 soapbox cars which were sponsored by local businesses. They're trying to raise $40,000 to incorporate more STEAM into school programs.
Anyone is invited to Saturday's festival, which kicks off at 10 a.m. in Little Italy. Th event will also feature a bounce house, face painting, a bocce ball tournament and much more for the kids.
