Imaginations Unleashed: Peck’s Annual MiniMester Tradition

While mornings on campus last week were defined by the quiet focus of ERB Standardized Testing, afternoons told a much louder, more colorful story. Across every corner of the Upper School, the silence of pens on paper gave way to the joyful noise of creativity as students dove into their MiniMester projects.

Peck’s campus became a living workshop as fifth-through-seventh-grade students spread across classrooms, hallways—and even the outdoors—to bring their projects to life. MiniMester is a project-based learning assignment in the Upper School that allows students to exercise their imaginations as they work in groups to build themed projects across grade levels. 

Fifth graders reimagined the arcade, engineering wooden pinball machines inspired by themes from Peck’s curriculum. After testing their designs, the machines are carefully stored away until their debut at a fifth grade fair for parents this spring.

“I was inspired by the triangle bouncers and cup tunnels in the pinball machines at the game vault,” says fifth grader Alexander P. (To gather inspiration, fifth graders visit Morristown’s local Game Vault to explore its retro pinball machines) 

Sixth graders worked in small groups in a test of structural integrity and speed, crafting wood-and-cardboard chariots designed for the high-stakes heat of race day. With themes ranging from pizza to flamingoes, Ferrari to Cookie Monster and more, the students also showed off their creativity and artistic flair. Their hard work culminated in a lively chariot race, held in the Manzo Gym at the end of the week. 

“The students worked together wonderfully to build sturdy chariots,” says Upper School Math Teacher and Grade 6 Advisor Stewart Wilkinson. “Their teamwork showed as this was the first year that none of the chariots fell apart. They should all be very proud of themselves.” 

Seventh graders were hard at work constructing functional carnival games of all kinds—much to the delight of Lower School students, who lined up to play at the carnival’s debut at the end of the week. From DIY whack-a-mole to skee-ball to a duck pond, students racked up tickets at every turn, eagerly trading them in for prizes. Even teachers got in on the fun, testing their skills at the seventh graders’ creations.

Eighth graders, meanwhile, stepped beyond campus—traveling to Costa Rica for an inaugural service-learning experience that extended MiniMester’s spirit of hands-on, purpose-driven learning into the global community.

It was a high-energy, all-hands-on-deck week, and the results are a testament to our Upper School students' determination and imagination