Photo By Cpl. Adeline Smith | Staff Sgt. Herbert M. Grose Jr., teaches students how to build a field expedient...... read more read more
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KADENA AIR BASE, Okinawa - Nervously and carefully, students place a textbook atop a rectangular structure made of toothpicks and gumballs. If it can withstand the weight, their hard work and commitment will pay off.
The structure holds and the students erupt into cheers and clapping hands. Then slowly, one end starts to wane, tilting to the side before the books slide off, crumpling the fragile walls.
Picking up the mass of toothpicks and gumballs, the students start talking of new ideas for a bigger and better structure.
Recently, Marines collaborated with teachers of Stearley Heights Elementary School to mentor students during Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics week, an annual program developed to spur interest in learning modern-day science and mathematics.
The children learned how maps are configured, weather effects the environment, sound waves are made by instruments, how to build a radio antenna, and ways to design a structure made of toothpicks and gumballs that could support heavy objects.
“Our mission at Stearley Heights Elementary School is to provide our students with learning opportunities that stimulate their curiosity, motivate their creative thinking, and to relate to their individual strengths and weaknesses,” said Manny Rodriguez, a special education teacher at the school. “STEM emphasizes a hands-on approach to using science, technology, engineering and mathematics in real-world scenarios, lessons and experiments.”
To help the school with the program, Marines volunteered to show the students how the different subjects will apply to jobs they may have in the future.
“What we were trying to do is show them what we do in our day-to-day jobs (applies) to the things they’re trying to learn in school,” said Gunnery Sgt. Shane L. Channel, a meteorology and oceanography chief with G-2, intelligence, Headquarters Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force. “So basically, we’re just giving the children an overall, big-picture view of how these military jobs tie into the things that they’re learning in school.”
The interactive activities offered during STEM helped inspire children who may not have found the subjects creative or exciting.
“(Some) children who are not motivated to read, do math or science, don’t realize they’re actually doing it right now,” said Rhoda Cruz, a second-grade teacher at the school. “We talked about why it’s important to design and plan your building before you build it. The children were excited to build, but we explained that you have to make the design, plan it out, and then actually build the design.”
With the collaboration of the teachers and Marines building upon what the students already learned and paving the way toward future educational opportunities, the students have a better grasp on these complex subjects, according to Rodriguez.
“STEM education creates critical thinkers, increases science literacy, and enables the next generation of innovators,” said Rodriguez. “The hope is that students will walk away with an excitement for these subjects and a greater knowledge on what the future holds for them with these skills.”
| Date Taken: | 01.06.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 01.09.2014 23:38 |
| Story ID: | 118986 |
| Location: | KADENA AIR BASE, OKINAWA, JP |
| Web Views: | 132 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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