Northside builds with STEM grant

Photo by Mike Eckels Three members of the fourth- and fifth-grade classes of Decatur Northside Elementary School demonstrate their drawbridge design during the April 1 after-school program.
Photo by Mike Eckels Three members of the fourth- and fifth-grade classes of Decatur Northside Elementary School demonstrate their drawbridge design during the April 1 after-school program.

DECATUR -- Students at Decatur Northside Elementary were given two challenges as they sat at their desks after school April 1: Design and build a simple pulley system, and make a drawbridge, using everyday items such as empty spools, straws, yarn and wooden dowels.

The students were part of a Wednesday after-school program paid for with a "Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics" grant provided by Verizon Wireless.

Jackie Smith, instructional technologies facilitator for the Decatur School District, applied for the grant last fall. By early November, she learned that Decatur was selected to receive the $20,000 grant.

"They were giving STEM grants to 50 rural schools throughout the United States," Smith said. "We were one of three schools in Arkansas to receive this grant."

The Decatur program, named the "Club Bulldog," is part of Verizon's "Club Invention" curriculum, a 10-week program designed to stimulate student interest in science and technologies.

"I wanted to start an after-school program that included the younger students," Smith said. "With this grant, I was able to achieve that goal and I was also able to get transportation provided, which was a real issue in the past for any kind of after-school program at Northside."

The Decatur program is divided into three classes, kindergarten and first, second and third, and fourth and fifth grades. Each week, the classes are given different challenges in the four areas of the STEM grant. Classes receive instructions and materials pertaining to the task of the week. The students work in groups of four to find a solution and build a working model of that week's project.

During the April 1 Castles and Catapults Unit, two of the classes were given the challenge of designing and building a simple pulley system. They demonstrated their designs by picking up objects (a small basket, chair, potted plant, stuffed animal) using only the devices they constructed.

Several groups from the second- and third-grade classes each picked up their required items using an empty spool attached to a dowel rod. A piece of string was tied and wrapped around spool. The other end of the string was tied to an item which, in several cases, was a small basket. They picked up the basket by coiling the string around the spool using the rod as a pivot point, much like an elevator. Slowly, the items lifted off the floor, much to the joy of the designers.

The fourth- and fifth-grade class was tasked with building a drawbridge using spools, straws, cups, pencils and yarn. The results were amazing. Two groups made working drawbridges, complete with counterweights and a raising and lowering mechanism attached to the end of a foam tray.

At the end of the session, the students recorded the day's activities in a notebook which they took home for their parents to review, make comments in and sign.

Part of the grant went to the purchase of a 3D printer, 3D scanner for an iPad and a robotic kit for the program. The school system will get to keep these items long after the program is over.

A total of 50 students are currently enrolled in Club Bulldog. Smith hopes they will be able to continue the program next year.

"The kids really enjoy the program and we are extremely lucky to have been selected for this grant," Smith said.

General News on 04/08/2015