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2017 EDUCATION MAGAZINE
LINCOLN DAILY NEWS MARCH 1, 2017 Page 7
S
TEM - Science, Technology,
Engineering & Mathematics - is an
elective course taken by all eighth grade
students at Mount Pulaski Grade School.
The course is taught by Heather Fricke.
Throughout the school year, this course
covers a vast array of content. Concepts
investigated during this course include:
Digital Citizenship, Online Safety,
Email Safety, Bridges, Catapults, Speed/
Acceleration, Engineering Challenges
(egg drops, chip ship, labyrinths, tallest
towers), Data Collection and Graphing,
News Casting, Movie Creation, Clay
Animation, Validity and Sourcing,
Engineering Careers, Skyscrapers,
Simple and Complex Machines, Scale
Drawings, Communication, Making
Accurate Observations, Ductagami,
Flight, Public Service Announcements,
Lake Michigan Species Diversity,
Mission to Mars, and Consumer Reports
Testing.
All of these concepts are investigated
using hands-on learning lab experiments.
This gives students an opportunity
to hone their scientific measurement
skills (using scientific tools like triple
beam balances, meter sticks, pipettes,
graduated cylinders, protractors,
etc…) prior to entering high
school.
Students also had an opportunity
to investigate careers within the
field of STEM by attending the
Manufacturing EXPO in Peoria
back in October.
STEM: Academics
and practical experiences
inspire students
From the classroom of Heather Fricke
Mount Pulaski Community Unit District #23
Technology Coordinator, M.S. Instructional Design and Technology