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Donation boosts STEM programs

PASR grant helps supply spaces in 2 area schools

5th grader Emma Colyer, right, looks at a specimen under the microscope as classmate Calie Cox takes notes in the Lewistown Intermediate School’s STEM makerspace Thursday morning in Lewistown.

LEWISTOWN – Two area STEM programs are getting a boost thanks to the Pennsylvania Association of School Retirees. The STEM programs at Lewistown Elementary School and Lewistown Intermediate School will split a $750 Educational Support Grant provided by PASR. The grant was created to help finance and provide supplies of special school programs that need extra funding.

Working with the teacher, Nathan King and the district’s technology department, the Mifflin County chapter of the PASR selected to award the grant to the STEM programs of both schools. The funds will go toward the purchase of supplies for the school’s makerspaces.

According to Lewistown Intermediate School teacher Steve Himes, 5th-grade students from every class use the makerspace to explore all aspects of STEM education from technology to engineering to mathematics. Himes also said the students use a wide spectrum of objects and supplies in the makerspace. Students have iPads for computer programming and technologies as well as simple household items like soup cans and paper towel rolls to create projects. “Not everything in here is high-tech, but the important thing is the imagination, creativity and promotion of STEM education.” Himes said.

Gabrielle McDonald, 4th-grade teacher at Lewistown Intermediate, also said her students use the makerspace for a variety of subjects. On the high-tech end of the program, her students work with Ozobots, which are designed to teach coding for robotics. Students can program the small robots through an app or by coding on a piece of paper. As far as the household items, McDonald said her students really had the chance to be creative as they were able to create sled prototypes with the basic materials in the makerspace classroom. Her students also designed ecosystem marble mazes out of cardboard box lids.

The money from the PASR grant will go toward a variety of supplies for the program. McDonald said she requested supplies to work with circuits. McDonald said a lot of teachers in 4th and 5th grade like to do circuit projects with their students. “You need the lights, the copper tape, the battery, and a lot of people enjoy doing it across all grade levels here, so I thought it would be beneficial for everyone.” McDonald said.

Himes stated that the program was able to order supplies to create stop animation while working in conjunction with the school’s computer teacher. Himes said they were able to order multiple kits to cover a full classroom. “We’d like to thank the district and administration. This isn’t possible without their support. We get the support to do this, and it’s not just at LIS. It’s also the initiative that Mifflin County School District takes to promote STEM education. To give teachers the freedom to have spaces like this. I’m thankful for that. I’m thankful for the support provided by administration.” Himes said.

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