This summer, Franklin elementary students will build model houses, design and build devices that protect people from ultraviolet radiation and will figure out a way to get donated food from a truck to a pantry in the most efficient way possible.
The opportunities are all part of the new inclusion of science, technology, engineering and math, commonly known as STEM, in the Franklin summer school programs for the first time. Duke Energy awarded the district a $10,000 grant to fund the programs.
With the grant, math and science teacher Megan Greene will use science kits for incoming first through fourth graders for 30 minutes a day for the 20 days students attend summer school programming, which will be conducted at Northwood Elementary School. The grant also funds science books for the students and will pay Greene for her work, said Superintendent David Clendening.
Duke Energy awarded the grant to Franklin along with 28 others school districts out of the 41 that applied, said Jean Renk, manager of government and community relations at Duke Energy.
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“Franklin School Corporation’s launch program was selected because of its focus on STEM education, specifically related to the study of light and science,” Renk said.
The use of books that relate to science programs is related to the mission of Franklin’s summer school program, which has aims of improving literacy in students from kindergarten through third grade who have fallen behind their grade’s reading level, Clendening said.
“This is the first time for STEM in summer schools,” Greene said. “We are providing three modules: ‘Exploring Design,’ ‘Sun, Moon and Stars’ and ‘Energy Conversion.’ The modules provide an engaging classroom environment exploring real-world challenges, so it’s very engaging and hands-on. (It requires) critical thinking, communication and collaboration.”
In the design class, students leaving kindergarten will look at the engineering processes necessary to design and build houses. At the end of the class, students will build their own miniature houses using wooden dowels, feathers, pipe cleaners, craft sticks, paint and clay, Greene said.
In the sun, moon and stars class, students will look at patterns researchers use to develop an explanation of their observations of nature, and will research those patterns when it comes to astronomy. Students will also design a device to protect people from ultraviolet radiation, she said.
Students leaving third grade will take the energy conversion class, and will learn about kinetic, thermal, light, nuclear, chemical, electrical and mechanical forms of energy, using ideas concerning energy transmission to discuss the most efficient way to move food from a truck to a pantry, she said.
Similar modules are already in place during the standard school year, Greene said.
“The kids absolutely love STEM; it’s become one of their favorite courses,” Greene said. “It provides such a non-traditional way of teaching and learning. Kids are very engaged with hands-on real world learning.”
