7th-graders design outdoor learning space
FORT WAYNE, Ind. (AP) - A group of Fort Wayne seventh-graders spent the academic year developing an idea that could benefit their middle school, Memorial Park.
Brought together by adviser Larry Lesh, a retired Fort Wayne Community Schools educator, the 13-year-olds collaborated on an outdoor learning center project as part of the eCybermission competition.
The web-based science, technology, engineering and mathematics contest is open nationwide to sixth-, seventh-, eighth- and ninth-grade teams who must propose a solution to a problem in their community.
Getting on Memorial Park's team required a successful interview with Lesh. He said up to 20 students vied for the four spots ultimately awarded to Holden Robbins, Audrey Krauhs, Rowan Miller and Quentin Cox.
The students' reasons for participating were simple.
"It was about helping the community," Rowan said.
Audrey was motivated by a desire to get more science experience, she said, noting she succeeded with that goal. She learned how much work goes into something seemingly simple, she said.
The teens relied on various sources - including books, articles and people - to develop plans for a fenced-in outdoor learning center at the school as a way to promote full sensory education and to draw students away from electronics.
A greenhouse, garden beds and an area for class lessons were among the features they proposed.
"We definitely learned quite a bit from doing this," Quentin said.
Rowan said their learning went beyond the STEM subjects to include interviewing skills.
"And writing," Holden added.
While they didn't advance to regionals, their efforts netted them second place among the seventh-grade teams from Indiana.
"This team worked very well," Lesh said.
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Source: The (Fort Wayne) Journal Gazette, http://bit.ly/2sjecqe
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Information from: The Journal Gazette, http://www.journalgazette.net