Cubes In Space
Science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) knowledge and skills are combined and applied in the design of small experiments. Students use their imaginations and critical thinking skills to design experiments and research that connect to real world space or Earth-based problems. Then if selected, their experiment will launch into space or a near space environment on a NASA sounding rocket and zero-pressure scientific balloon.
Garden
Our school garden beds have been in place for the past 5 years. Middle School Students plan and plant these garden beds each spring and then harvest them in the fall. We deliver all produce that is grown to our parish food pantry. We hear that the patrons that benefit from our food pantry really enjoy the first, homegrown vegetables that we donate. This project is a favorite of some of the middle school students as it provides them with the opportunity to learn about basic gardening including concepts such as germination, resource usage such as sunlight and soil nutrients, selective breeding techniques, heirloom gardening, pollination, photosynthesis/energy transfer and plant structure. This is the first chance some of our students have to be involved in growing and gardening. This fall we will be expanding our outdoor garden unit to include some indoor vertical gardens and hydroponics! This will be tied into real world challenges that we will face when living in space and on other planets such as Mars.
SeaPerch
SeaPerch is an innovative underwater robotics program that equips teachers and students with the resources they need to build an underwater Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV). We then organize a regional competition with the chance to take their SeaPerch to the National SeaPerch Competition held in Maryland.
Rockets!
This club will study the structure and function of modern day rockets including the new components of the SpaceX rockets. Once we have learned about how rockets work, we will build our own rockets and launch them in the spring!
Space Gardening
This is a new club that will incorporate hydroponics, selective breeding techniques and growing practices used by astronauts on the International Space Station to grow the hottest peppers using seeds provided by NASA!