Page 4 - TTWIFallWinter2024
P. 4

STEM
        Page 4                                                                                                 Electronic Edition: www.teachingtodaywi.com

                     8th Grader at MPS’s Golda Meir School is One of the Top 300

                     Junior Innovators in u.S.


                                            selected in the nationwide Thermo Fisher Scien-  about the harmful effects of lead in drinking water   “there’s only one answer, but there are other ways
                                            tific Junior Innovators Challenge. The challenge   on children, she decided to conduct more research   to get there,” she said.
                                            is  an  annual  science,  technology,  engineering,   on lead pipes.       The appeal to her of PLTW is that students
                                            and math (STEM) competition for middle school   Precious decided to construct a water filter   can focus on the topics that interest them. “We get
                                            students. A panel of scientists, engineers, and edu-  from paper. The first designs proved too thick or   to choose what problem we want to solve,” she
                                            cators from around the country selected the Top   too  fragile;  as  is  typical  with  experimentation,   said. The class also organizes field trips for stu-
                                            300 Junior innovators.              Precious found she had to “try, try again.” The   dents, who get to meet the people whose jobs the
                                                Precious  qualified  for  the  challenge  after   cover  of  the  award-winning  project,  a  booklet   students aspire to, Precious added. “it’s a really
                                            winning first place in the science category at the   made from water filters.  nice class.”
                                            Badger State Science and Engineering Fair for her   Eventually, she came up with an engineering   Precious is thankful to her PLTW teacher,
                                            project, “Lead Water Safety with Leah the Leath-  process to make the paper as quickly as possible,   Tina Gleason, who helped her shape and develop
                                            erback Turtle” — or, as it’s called in the Thermo   designing a circular filter with a perforated slit in   her  STEM  project.  “Thanks  to  her,  i  had  the
                                            Fisher  competition,  “Development  of  a  Litera-  the center that could be turned into a secure cone   opportunity to try and challenge myself and work
                                            ture-Based Methodology for Educating on Water   shape.                 hard on this project,” she said.
                                            Contamination  and  Filtration  using  Common   Precious  worked  in  her  school’s  lab  for   Precious  plans  to  continue  at  Golda  Meir
                                            Household Materials.”               Project Lead The Way (PLTW). There, she could   School for high school. Someday, she’d like to be
                                                Precious  was  in  7th  grade  when  she  pre-  conduct her research and use a 3D printer for her   a biological or environmental engineer. Although,
                                            pared her project, a book made of removeable,   project.               she said, since most of the adults in her family are
                                            usable paper water filters she constructed that can   She began taking STEM classes in 6th and   doctors, the healthcare field interests her, as well.
                                            be used to remove contaminants. The book’s text   7th grade and also is in STEM Club. The first time   “We are so proud of her and her PLTW
                                            is printed on plastic overlays that cover each filter.   she joined the competition for the Badger State   teacher,”  said  Martha  Silva-Krieger,  instruc-
        Milwaukee Public Schools                The  text  is  intended  to  educate  children   Science and Engineering Fair, in 6th grade, she   tional  mentor  coach  with  MPS’s  Advanced
            An 8th grader at Golda Meir School turned   about the dangers of contaminated water and the   took 3rd place. When she won 1st place in her   Academics  Programs.  “This  achievement
        her concern over lead water pipes and keeping   precautions needed to stay safe but written so as   second try, “I was really excited,” Precious said.   deserves to be celebrated.”
        children safe into a winning science project. Now,   to not alarm them.    “i really like science and math. Those are
        she’s  one  of  only  300  Junior  innovators  in  the   A  young  cousin  inspired  her  to  consider   my favorite subjects,” she said. They’re also sub-
        united States for 2024.             the topic of children’s health. “She just eats and   jects her parents encouraged her to take an interest   mps.milwaukee.k12.
            Adenike (Precious) Olowu was one of 1,862   bites a lot of things. What if she eats something   in, she added.    wi.us
        entrants  and  the  only  student  from  Wisconsin,   that hurts her?” Precious said. Then, after hearing   What intrigues Precious about math is that


         STEM Shuttle Gives Students Space


         to Learn!                                                                              Wishing you


                                                                                             joy and peace


                                                                                       this holiday season



                                                                                                      from the staff at

                                                                                                  Teaching Today WI,

                                                                                           Transportation Today WI, &

            The STEM Shuttle is in its 19th year of   “From  an  engineer’s  point  of  view,  the   Manufacturing Today WI
        docking at schools in Wisconsin. The program,   designed tasks the kids take part in are very
        incorporating space travel and hands-on work-  thought provoking and exciting to watch. The
        stations, is designed for grades 4 - 8. up to 10   three  instructors  are  well  prepared  and  cer-  Watch for our next issue
        students per session are challenged at a series   tainly  enjoy  having  the  children  participate.   coming in January, featuring
        of  hands-on  workstations  assisted  by  our   It was even my experience to share my back-
        veteran on board teachers. There are up to 5   ground  in  teaching  one  of  the  tasks  for  the   our special section:
        sessions during the day.            last group that came through. I spent a better
            Recently, the STEM Shuttle was visited   part of my day aboard the shuttle and accom-  Transportation Today WI
        by Jon Kukuk, an engineer, who also serves   modated school staff and the media to see the
        on the Peshtigo school board. Since this was   event, talk to the children and experience the
        the first time an engineer was on board during   excitement.”
        a shuttle mission, we asked Jon to share his
        thoughts on the STEM Shuttle program. Here   You are invited to visit www.stemshuttle.
        is an excerpt from his response.    com to learn more about the STEM Shuttle,
                                            including fees and a whole lot more.
   1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9