Classroom grants to bolster STEM efforts

Published 12:22 pm Friday, December 6, 2024

by David Horowitz

By DAVID MAMARIL HOROWITZ

david.horowitz@bgdailynews.com

Some 11 schools across southcentral Kentucky are utilizing one organization’s classroom grants to bolster STEM and STEAM programming with equipment such as Lego robots and graphing calculators.

Email newsletter signup

The Tennessee Valley Authority, a corporate electricity agency that sells electric power to electricity providers such as BGMU and WRECC, is providing $1.5 million for 342 of these grants, worth $1,000 to $5,000 each, across the Tennessee Valley region. The TVA, in partnership with its retiree organization Bicentennial Volunteers Inc., is providing the funds so region educators can develop STEM programs.

At Briarwood Elementary School, some two-thirds of its $5,000 will go toward one or two packs of 16 Sphero Mini Robot Balls, more for kindergarten through third grade, school Principal Scott Jones said. The school will spend remaining funds on Lego Education SPIKE Prime kits for the school’s older children.

Jones said he expects students to begin using these tools — widely used STEAM learning solutions for children — in the spring.

STEAM has been a focus for Jones.

“It’s about sparking that critical thinking — those problem solving skills — more than anything else,” he said.

It has additional importance, both at Briarwood Elementary and at other county schools, due to the popular FIRST LEGO League competitions; WCPS will hold its own competition at Briarwood Elementary on Jan. 18, where some 30 Briarwood Elementary students, across six teams, are planning to compete.

Briarwood Elementary accessed the same grant several years ago to purchase some classroom kits for kindergarten through second grade. All school students spend at least 45 minutes a week in the STEAM lab, as well — but overall, the new additions come at a time when the school has had minimal programming, Jones said.

At William H. Natcher Elementary School, Library Media Specialist Shannon Miller said that most of the $5,000 grant will go toward 15 Lego Education SPIKE Essential kits and around four of the equivalent Lego Prime kit — the latter being a more advanced version of the former and targeting older students.

While the school has some STEM tools and programming at its library, these Essential kits will enable Natcher Elementary to offer its first robotics class, planned for third graders every other week, said Miller, who had applied for the grant.

“These are jobs that we are preparing our kids for that haven’t even been created yet,” Miller said about the STEM industry. “So, we want to give them a start at an early age, so that they can see what’s available now and kind of enhance those problem-solving and creativity skills so that when they do reach an age where they’re looking into jobs, they have a skill set that they can use, and maybe a passion for something that they want to pursue later in life.”

Natcher Elementary will also feature the kits, especially the Prime versions, in a new club that Miller said she’ll sponsor as soon as she gets the kits, ideally in January or February.

Miller also expressed a desire to have students participate competitively in the upcoming WCPS Lego robotics competition following this school year.

“We’ve got a passion that has developed for these STEM activities and robotics, and we just want to expand on that,” Natcher Elementary Principal Matt Thornhill said. “And it gives the kids an opportunity to apply some of those things that they’re learning in the classroom …. Now, within a club or within a competition, within a team, it gives them an opportunity to just to grow themselves.”

At Bowling Green High School, $3,500 will purchase a class set of TI-84 graphing calculators for review lessons and labs within AP Environmental Science, which covers math concepts all year.

BGHS Science Teacher Katie Whitt, who had applied for the grant, said she’ll be showing her class how the calculator functions.

“One of the main 21st century skills students learn through completing this class is problem-solving skills,” she added. “Twenty-five percent of the class is required to be spent in the lab. During lab, students are asking questions and trying to answer their questions. The calculators I am requesting will help students complete these labs, which will positively help them work on the problem-solving skill.”

A class set, she added, removes students’ need to share, which avoids situations where students without a calculator copy or use a phone or Chromebook — “not the type of calculator they use on the exam,” Whitt added.

Other southcentral Kentucky grants, per the TVA:

“Chandler’s School (Logan County), $5,000

With a new STEM lab, the school hopes to acquire a varietyinimal of supplies and resources to educate and encourage STEM related careers for students in grades K-8. The lab will allow students to collect and plot weather, report the weather during morning announcements, build robots, test soil erosion, do engineering challenges, test electrical circuits, and record findings in project based learning journals. Each teacher in grades K-8 will be given specific instructions to assist and record student findings.

Edmonson County High School, $5,000

This project will be continue to help build robotics program and assist our students in learning more about automation and robotics in our classroom.  They will purchase more FIRST and VEX robotics components for our engineering classes.  These resources and supplies will give students more technical knowledge and experience with real world applications thus assisting them with career advancement and industry preparedness.  Students will be able assemble, program and run various robots in a classroom setting and potentially use the equipment for external competitions.

Red Cross Elementary (Barren County), $1,500

Teacher will use the online CAD software available at www.tinkercad.com to teach students the basics of 3-D design and drafting, and give them the tools and knowledge they need to create independent products. Teacher will purchase three 3-D printers, along with replacement nozzles and enough initial PLA filament to truly turn our emerging learning into that of a STEAM curriculum that will impact students’ lives for years to come.

Russellville Middle School, $5,000

LEGO Robotics project will offer hands-on learning that directly connects to career readiness. By integrating LEGO Robotics into our curriculum, they aim to develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and teamwork skills essential for 21st-century careers. LEGO Robotics is particularly well-suited for our school’s demographics, as its visual and tactile approach makes learning accessible to all students, including those who might struggle with language barriers or other challenges. Through the project, students will design, build, and program robots to complete tasks, engaging in activities that mirror real-world engineering challenges. This not only builds technical skills but also fosters collaboration, communication, and leadership.

South Green Elementary (Glasgow), $5,000

School is starting a new STEAM Lab. Purchasing 3D printers will enable them to teach STEAM through real world applications. They will start by introducing students to the basics of 3D printing technology and its applications. Students will brainstorm and design a simple 3D model related to a topic they’re learning, such as a historical artifact or a geometric shape.

North Butler Elementary School, $5,000

During scheduled library classes, students will be introduced to the NBES Cubs Create program.  They will discuss what it is, how it works, who can participate, when they can work on STEM projects, why they are doing the program, and where they will display their creations.  Students will be required to use a prewriting/design outline before being able to move on to their product creation.  After students have been approved by their classroom teacher on their design, then students will be able to work in their classrooms or the library to create their product.  Student creations will be displayed either in the library or in the display hall cases along with their design outline.  Each month, school will recognize and award one student for the Most Creative STEM project by announcing it in cub rally and giving them their own STEM set to further promote their ingenuity skills.

Logan County Career and Technical School, $5,000

Teacher has long-term goal to implement a “Code and Control” program in the classroom that is to be able to take drones outside to do 3D mapping of the world we live in so they can observe and study the landscape, as well as environmental changes over time. The students will gain valuable STEM skills, including coding, engineering, and problem-solving. They will also develop a deeper understanding of how technology shapes the world around them and be inspired to explore further in the fields of robotics and drone technology. This project not only enhances their technical abilities but also fosters creativity, innovation, and critical thinking, preparing them for future challenges in a rapidly advancing technological landscape. Students will begin by familiarizing themselves with microcontrollers. They’ll learn about the different types, how they work, and their applications in robotics and drones. The project will culminate in a showcase where students present their creations, demonstrating their understanding of both the technical and creative aspects of the project.

Glasgow Middle School, $5,000

In the Health Science Career Cluster students prepare for a career that promotes health, wellness and diagnosis, and treats injuries and diseases.  Some careers involve working directly with people, while others involve research into diseases or collecting and formatting data and information. The purpose of this school’s project is to introduce students to career possibilities in the healthcare field, specifically biomedical engineering.  In this innovative middle school project, students embark on a journey into the world of medical science and 3D printing, where they combine creativity, empathy, and technology to design assistive devices.”


 

More News

Country music star Messina to perform at SKyPAC Jan. 25

BG dealership owner admits guilt in odometer tampering case

City sets licensing process for medicinal cannabis

City receives $10K donation for animal shelters

Print Article