Jackson STEM class challenges students to find creative solutions
VIENNA - A science and engineering class at Jackson Middle School challenges students to solve complex problems in a short amount of time using only their wits and limited resources.
The STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) program at Jackson Middle teaches science and engineering concepts through practical application as students are presented with a hurdle to overcome while using only materials on-hand and a timer ticking down.
Teacher Cherish George said the program is designed to encourage “innovation and hands on problem solving.”
“They’re given a challenge, but no other instruction,” she said. “Like today, the idea is to build a parachute for a super hero. And then we will begin calculating how quickly they fall and which design works the best.”
To construct the parachutes, students could choose from a list of materials: A foot of string, a foot of tape, two napkins, a paper towel, a coffee filter, a sheet of newspaper and a cup. The students could choose to use some or all of the available items, nothing outside of those choices.
The students then took turns dropping each parachute with a metal figure attached while another student recorded how long it took the piece to fall 7 feet. Each test was completed three times to give an average so students could calculate how quickly it fell. The students were learning to calculate the speed using the speed equation, George said.
In most of the early tests, the parachutes did little to slow the figure’s descent, but George said those often are the best lessons for students to learn.
“Thomas Edison said he never failed, he just found 10,000 ways that didn't work,” she said. “It’s not a failure to invent something.”
The previous week, students designed, built and tested boats, and George said the projects will continue to get larger and more challenging. The classes also will work with robotic cars, a greenhouse and a Monarch butterfly garden, she said.
Students said the unique challenges combined with the fast pace and opportunities to be creative make the STEM class a unique and fun adventure.
The class is seeking community donations, as the pandemic and need for personal protective equipment has made it more challenging for the school to provide enough materials for students.
“You either have to wear gloves or have enough materials for each student to have their own,” George said. “And PPE is especially expensive, so we try to have as much material as possible. We couldn’t do this without the community’s help.”
George said donations from WVU Medicine Camden Clark and school parents have made many of the initial projects possible, but said she hopes more groups and community members will donate to help make the class successful. Once students move into areas of technology such as 3D printers, vinyl cutters and heat presses, she hopes students can sell items to ultimately make the class self-supportive.
Donations dropped off at the school should be earmarked “STEM Program Donation” and checks can be made payable to Jackson Middle School with “STEM Program Donation” in the memo line.
For questions, Cherish George can be contacted at cmgeorge@k12.wv.us or by calling the school at 1-304-420-9551.