[ad_1]
Here’s a look at today’s forecast.
Lafayette Daily Advertiser
Fourth- and fifth-graders entered ancient Rome, ate at a 1950s diner and traveled the world during Saturday camps at David Thibodaux STEM Magnet Academy this year.
This was the first year the free camps were offered, taking place in October, November, January and February. They wrapped up the last one before spring testing.
The two-hour camps are run by 12th-graders at the high school as part of their senior project with help from engineering teacher Nicolette Darjean and environmental science teacher Haley Casanova.
Students practice drawing Roman letters during a Saturday camp led by seniors at David Thibodaux STEM Magnet Academy this year. (Photo: Leigh Guidry/USA TODAY Network)
“The kids got into it. They enjoyed working with the fourth- and fifth-graders,” Darjean said about her seniors.
Two to four seniors were responsible for each camp, she said. Each Saturday had a different theme and mix of content focuses, including STEM (science, technology, education and math) as well as the arts.
The first, in October, was called “When Rome Ruled the World.” It focused on engineering, social studies, art and theater.
Middle-schoolers participated as a living museum that campers walked through when they arrived. Students were dressed in period costume and placed among Roman columns.
Then they learned to build aqueducts and ballistas or trebuchets out of pipe cleaners, construction paper and cotton balls.
MORE: Therapy dogs are helping Prairie second-graders practice reading
“We try to do things that make learning meaningful to kids,” Principal Jeff Debetaz said.
The second camp, in December, was called “The Clash-up Mash-up” and integrated math, technology, science and dietetics. There were video games, mini robots and “math Twister.”
Students had to solve a math problem to know where to put their hands and feet on the color-dotted mat.
Debetaz said this is an example of active learning, a true characteristic of STEM-certified education.
“The premise is to get kids to do problem-solving, have failure, learn from it, go back and research and try again,” Debetaz said.
Students create trebuchets out of pipe cleaners to launch cotton balls during a Saturday camp led by seniors at David Thibodaux STEM Magnet Academy this year. (Photo: Joe Cunningham)
The third camp, in January, turned part of the school into a 1950s Starlight Diner.
Students made their own ice cream in plastic baggies, talked about the chemistry behind cooking and did marketing by coming up with their own logos and menus.
February’s camp was “Journey the World” and integrated environmental science, English language arts and foreign languages.
Students learned to counted in Spanish as they learned the steps to a Spanish dance.
They also looked at rivers, lakes and dams, relating that to robotics, engineering and poetry. They read poems and talked about how to construct their own.
The camps are free and open to fourth- and fifth-graders. It’s first-come, first-served up to 50 for each day camp.
Campers don’t have to be from a particular school or even part of the Lafayette school district, Debetaz said.
Another component of STEM-certified education is giving back to the community, Debetaz said, and the free camps check that box while teaching teens they can have an impact on younger students.
MORE:High school gets tough on student cell phone use
Next year Darjean plans to mix up the content, or pathway, combinations. Instead of engineering and art, for example, it could engineering and food, to give students a different experience.
She expects the next camp to be in October, which gives Darjean and her students time to settle into the new school year and plan new themes and activities.
“Education is about experiences,” Debetaz said. “The more experiences we can give our children the better.”
Read or Share this story: https://www.theadvertiser.com/story/news/local/education/2019/03/15/students-teach-students-everything-robotics-poetry-free-day-camps/3132646002/
[ad_2]
Source link
Leave A Comment
You must be logged in to post a comment.