MONEYSAVER OCTOBER 18, 2019
I 43 MAIN ST, BRADFORD, PA 16701
I 814.368.3173
CAR. TR. MKTG MAIL US POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 244 BRADFORD, PA Occupant Rural-Star Route P.O. Box Holder
NEWS
STEM Lab at Smethport elementary is popular addition
By FRAN DE LANCEY
SMETHPORT — It’s fewer than two months into the current school year and already the new STEM Lab at the Smethport Area Elementary School is proving to be very popular with the students. STEM is a curriculum based on educating students in four basic disciplines: science, technology, engineering and mathematics and comes at a critical time for the nation as it risks losing its technological lead in the world due to a dwindling number of professionals in these specialties, which are among the fastest growing fields worldwide. One of STEM’s goals is for children to develop an interest in the subjects at an early age. After the Russians initiated the space race with the launch of the world’s first artificial satellite in 1957, Presidents Eisenhower and Kennedy challenged U.S. schools and colleges to become leaders in STEM. By 2006, though, the United States had reached just the halfway point in its goal of preparing 100,000 new STEM teachers by 2021. Rather than teach these four subjects in isolation, or separately, STEM, by encouraging curiosity in an interdisciplinary approach, moves away from rote learning and
Photo by Fran De Lancey Sixth-graders Anna Cunningham, Cooper Anderson, Ayden Blair and Abbie Phearsdorf use the catapult their group has made.
the teacher-centered classroom to hands-on learning for students through projects that encourage creativity, exploring, collaborating, problem solving, communication and critical thinking skills relating to real world applications. Smethport joins other area districts with STEM labs. Much planning went into opening this lab. “We didn’t buy a canned curriculum; we built this from the ground up,” said Elementary Principal Kristin Zona. “For at least a year, a committee of our teachers worked together, guided by the Pennsylvania Common Core Standards and the state’s academic standards for science and technology. Much work was also done outside the committee meetings. “We developed a draft
curriculum based on those standards and are adjusting it as we go for the first year.” Financial support for the lab came from a grant from the George A. and Margaret Mee Charitable Foundation and matching funds from the school district. Smethport’s elementary and secondary enrichment teacher Kelly Tarbox spoke about the educational materials that are used in the lab, which occupies two former sixth grade classrooms that are adjacent and open. “Our equipment includes 24 iPads, an interactive television, tangrams and various computer compatible kits, such as Osmo Learning, Dash Robots, Lego Mindstorms, and Mag Builders.” Tangrams are different shapes that students put together in a certain
pattern to create a puzzle. Osmo Learning is an app on iPads for teaching numbers, money and manipulatives. By using the fully assembled Dash Robots, students learn programming. Lego Mindstorms provide a software platform for developing programmable robots based on the Lego blocks. Mag Builders are snaptogether building blocks that teach the basics of magnetism, such as attract and repel. The lab is open to students in pre-K through grade six. “We’ve scheduled the classrooms in on a monthly basis, and teachers accompany the students so they also can learn to use the STEM materials and experience the STEM side of the instruction.” Tarbox said. “The classes also have
lab days with the teacher and I’m not there.” Usually, the classes are in the lab two to three times a month. Zona said the school has had STEM days for the last several years but never in a lab setting. A STEM Showcase was held last year. Tarbox described a typical STEM class that lasts 40 to 50 minutes with a 10-minute break in between to prepare for the next class. “I do a five-to-seven minute presentation during which I introduce the information and background and go over the objectives and standards,” Tarbox said. “Then I present a real world-based problem for the students to solve.” Then the students, usually working in groups of two and never more than three and not always in the same groups, collaborate and explore as they gather their information and conduct experiments to test their theories. Classes have completed many projects. Kindergarteners have done several lessons involving exploration. Besides working with tangrams, second graders, while studying magnetism, used the Mag Builder sets. While studying the topic of weather, third graders designed and built an operational flood gate out of Legos. In fourth grade, the students were assigned
an engineering problem to build an apple trapper. “First, we learned about the different types of apples and their seasons and how they relate to STEM.” Tarbox said. Each group had to use their resources of 10 pieces of paper and a strip of tape to actually pick up one apple at first and then keep adding more to test the strength of the paper in a minute. After leaving the lab and returning to their homerooms, the students embarked on the second step by redesigning the trapper with different materials and discussing how they improved it. The entire inquiry made them think and try. Fifth graders used Legos to construct simple machines. Sixth graders built catapults out of Connects. Zona said students do not receive grades in the lab. “It’s not like a special — art, music or physical education — because the teachers and Mrs. Tarbox teach together,” Zona explained. “Mrs. Tarbox is the lead, but the teachers co-teach with her.” In September, the school board members toured the STEM Lab and and came away very impressed. Studies show that STEM instruction has many benefits in students’ careers even if they don’t follow a STEM occupation.
We are with you every step of the way...
Levels of Care • • • • •
Short Term Care Personal Care Long Term Care Respite & Hospice Care Alzheimer’s & Dementia Care • Outpatient Therapy
Short Stay Advanced Rehabilitation Rehabilitation
• Physical, Occupational, and Speech Therapy • Accelerated Care Plus Therapies (ACP) — including the newest omni-verse systems
• • • • • •
Wound Healing Rheumatoid Arthritis Knee/Hip Replacement Osteoarthritis Carpal Tunnel Post Surgical Recovery
Expect the best from your Rehabilitation Experience
LAKEVIEW 814.887.5716
15 West Willow Street Smethport, PA 16749
HEALTHCARE & REHABILITATION