Jared Midkiff, 8, was pretty proud of his stack of cups, which measured 20 inches tall. In fact, he was having so much fun he decided to build something else after he knocked down his first creation.
Midkiff was one of several students enjoying a rare day in school instead of learning at home. Midkiff and other elementary students, who attend school virtually, were attending a STEM day at Douglass Learning Center recently. In addition to stacking cups, students made impressions from leaves, made marble art and learned how to float letters or shapes off the back of a spoon.
Elementary students in Lawton Public Schools’ Lawton Virtual Academy have the opportunity to attend a STEM day once a month where they interact with their peers and see their teachers in person.
Beth Perry, Lawton Virtual Academy math and Makerspace teacher, said the monthly event is important for several reasons.
“The kids can get hands-on science experiments and get a break from computer learning,” Perry said. “The kids also get to see their classroom teachers in person. It’s nice for us to connect with parents as well. We don’t ever really get to see them. There’s not a lot of face to face with parents.”
Students, teachers and parents all seemed to be having fun as they worked their way through the various stations set up in the cafeteria at Douglass Learning Center.
The cup-stacking activity Midkiff was engrossed in soon turned into a math lesson with his father, who suggested the two count how many cups Midkiff had used. His father, Sean Vyhlidal, counted the number of cups on each row while Midkiff added the numbers up. The answer: 45.
“I built that all by myself and it only fell once,” Midkiff said. “I’m thinking of doing a pyramid.”
“He tells everyone he wants to be an engineer,” his dad said.
Under gentle persuasion from his parents, Midkiff went off to try some other activities.
His sister, Emersyn Vyhlidal, 7, who also attends school virtually, was trying out the floating letters station where students used dry erase markers to print a letter or make a symbol on the back of a spoon. The spoon then was placed in a pan of water and, if done correctly, the letter or symbol on the back of the spoon floated off.
“I got it right twice and I’ve tried it six times,” said Justin Kesler, kindergarten and first-grade teacher who was manning the station.
Emersyn Vyhlidal got it right the first time.
“Look at that!” she said as the symbol she had drawn on the back of the spoon floated. “We should always try again. My teacher told me that.”
With an eye toward the Fall season, students also made rubbings of leaves. They chose a leaf, placed a white sheet of paper over it, used a crayon of their choice, and rubbed the crayon over the leaf.
Rosalee Glenn, 7, who is in third grade, was enjoying the activity.
“It looks so beautiful. I might hang it up,” she said of her artwork.
Her mother, Rebecca Glenn, explained why the STEM event is important.
“It allows them to do some hands-on activities. They can watch on the computer, but hands-on helps them retain it better. It’s a good bonding time with them and their teachers that they don’t get on the internet,” Glenn said.
Similar STEM events will be held in October, November and December, with activities geared toward the seasons.