Lessons in rocket science
Elementary, high schools unite to foster engineers
A select number of fifth graders from Nova Blanche Forman Elementary have been spending their Thursday mornings participating in nearby Nova High’s STEM mentoring program. The younger students are learning about hydro and paper rockets thanks to members of the high school’s Engineering Club, which facilitates the program.
Amanda Muir, a micro-computer tech specialist, made the move from Nova Blanche to Nova High. Since the schools are so close, she saw the potential for collaboration. Engineering teacher Adam Handler was also on board along with the Engineering Club.
Students worked to create a curriculum of activities for their mentees. The program is split during the school year into sessions for boys and girls.
“We started with girls because that’s the biggest push is girls in science,” Muir said. “The program is all-encompassing. The true goal is to get them interested in science and have them carry that all the way through school.”
Despite the age gap, a bond is formed between the students. The elementary students begin to look up to their mentors. Each session culminates with a rocket competition. Later, two dozen elementary students will participate in the robotics building program and the district technology competition hosted in April.
It’s exciting for senior Natalie Gadelrab to watch a fifth grader’s face light up after launching something they’ve created. She gets to see their progress firsthand.
“It’s fun to teach them about engineering and math,” Gadelrab said. “I’m sitting here making rockets with them, and I haven’t made one since ninth grade. So it’s
nice to reminisce. My brother was into engineering, and he got me interested in it when I was younger. So I was them at one point.”
Makayla Green had never made a rocket before. She enjoyed the experience and is interested in continuing with engineering in middle school.
“Some parts were hard and some were easy, but it’s fun,” Green said. “I’ve liked science since kindergarten, and I like doing experiments.”
Her classmate Katelyn Berringer’s love of the subject traces back to a fascination with nature. The activities have given her a chance to learn about something new.
“I like engineering be- cause I never tried it,” Berringer said. “Here you get to make rockets and launch them. It made me feel good because it wasn’t one that the high school kids made. It was one I made.”
Nova Blanche Principal Charles McCanna was able to observe a session as the kids were launching the rockets. He could tell the students were enthusiastic, proving the program’s effectiveness.
“Since 1989 when I was a science teacher at an elementary school, I’ve wanted to start a program with girls in science,” he said. “Times have changed, but somewhere in middle school there is a mentality out there that it’s not cool to be into science and engineering for girls. So this program is right on the money in helping change that perception.”