CHESHIRE, Mass. — Over the past six weeks, 48 middle school students participated in the Explore After School program at Hoosac Valley Middle School.

 

Organizer Laura Scholz said now that Grades 4 and 5 are at Hoosac Valley, the hands-on STEM program that was once held at CT Plunkett School could be expanded to Grade 7 and add new programming.

 

"Due to the structure at Hoosac Valley Middle School, we were able to offer the program for Grades 4-7 versus  3-5 last year," she said. "Also, the program was available to students from Adams and Cheshire this year … Overall the students really enjoyed the Explore sessions and many have talked about returning next year."

 

"Physics of Archery" was added to the program and organizers took advantage of the Hoosac Valley campus and added "Outdoor Pursuits" to the after-school program for science, technology, engineering and math.

 

Students also participate in robotics, engineering and chemistry programs led by teachers and volunteers from General Dynamics. 

 

"The students in this program are able to participate in hands-on STEM activities in small groups where they can be exposed to real-world topics and skills, such as building airplanes, rockets, bridges and using compasses and maps," she said. "The students were also able to work with General Dynamics Mission Systems engineers in the 'Robotics and Engineering Adventures,' which exposes them to basic engineering principles from industry experts."

 

Scholz said students are very receptive to hands-on learning and the after-school program provides new opportunities that there often is no time to engage in during the school day.

 

"The students enjoyed going outside to learn orienteering skills, took pride in hitting a bullseye in archery or programming their robot to accomplish a set of tasks, designing a windmill that could lift a cup of pennies, and getting their hands messy while creating a non-Newtonian fluid," Scholz said.

 

Scholz added that she hopes students continue to pursue what they learned during the program. 

 

"I hope the students learn that learning can be fun, that there are real-world applications for all of the topics that they are exposed to in the classroom and develop new interests," she said.