May 2024 - Two area school districts in the Central Wisconsin Electric Cooperative (CWEC) service area have received STEAM grants from CWEC. The funds from the grants are to be used for projects and initiatives related to science, technology, engineering, art, and math.

The STEAM grants were introduced by CWEC in the second half of 2022 because the co-op values education and training and understands that classrooms may have limited funding to pursue the projects needed to educate students in local communities.

School districts that received the grants are as follows.

BOWLER SCHOOL DISTRICT

The Bowler School District received a STEAM grant in the amount of $400 to purchase 10 electronic balance scales. The scales will be used by students in middle school and high school science classes, but could also be used by other classes, such as agriculture classes.

“I will be using them for specific measurements in chemistry and physical science classes because we need to get more precise with our measurements,” said Kathleen Hansen, high school science teacher in the Bowler School District.

She added, “If we’re just looking at diagnostic testing, if we don’t do more precision (measuring) then students lag back. If they’re getting fertilizer, they need to know precisely how much they need to put on their field. That’s really the basis for what we’re teaching in chemistry and ecology.”

When the district applied for the STEAM grant, it had two electronic balance scales. With the addition of 10 more scales, student will be able to work on projects in smaller groups, thus enhancing their learning experience.

“Rather than 10 students per scale, we’re going to be able to lower that number,” Hansen said. “They’re going to get more hands-on with more scales available, rather than having to share (a scale) with 10 people.”

Tracy Laude, middle school and high school science teacher in the Bowler School District added, “The more hands-on we can be, the better. We can demonstrate, but it will create more of a meaning if they can actually work with the tools themselves. This will definitely enable us to be in groups of two or three. That way we can go around to see where everybody is at.”

Another benefit will be lab work will be able to be completed faster.

The goal is to have all students in classes that use electronic balance scales to experience using the scales.

“It’s just the fact of using the tool and being able to pay attention to measurements,” Laude said.

Hansen said she is “thrilled” that students in her classes will have the opportunity for hands-on experience with the scales.

“We are very excited about it because we are always working together with each other anyway, when it comes to our classes.” Laude added. “It’s especially nice because a lot of students don’t get a chance to work with tools and equipment like this. It’s different than it was years ago.”

Both Hansen and Laude said they are thankful for the STEAM grant, because without it, it would not have been possible for the district to purchase that many scales.

ROSHOLT SCHOOL DISTRICT

The Rosholt School District received a $500 STEAM grant for the purchase of 20 rocket kits for fourth graders to build and shoot off at the end of the school year.

Having the fourth-grade students build and shoot off rockets at the end of the school year has become a tradition that was started by a former teacher according to fourth grade teacher Jennie Drath.

“I saw how much fun the kids had with it, so I figured it was a great thing to do, and spend more time with,” Drath said. “The rockets we were using last year were from probably the 1990s. There were pieces missing, so we needed new rockets. It’s something that we can use year after year.”

The rockets won’t be used for just fun, students will also learn about trajectory, force, thrust, and aerodynamics, Drath said.

“You can move the different parts around. You can change the cone, you can change the tail, so they can troubleshoot and learn from the hands-on trial and error experience,” Drath said.

The goal Drath has for students is to learn, while also having fun..

“I hope they learn how they can manipulate the different variables that make the rockets go further, or higher,” she said. “And I hope they work together cooperatively.”

Since the rockets are reusable, future fourth-grade students will also have the opportunity to learn with the rocket kits.

“I’d like to try to do it as much as possible, but it takes so much time to prep for it and get everything ready,” Drath said. “Our new science curriculum has a ton of hands-on stuff. I haven’t done as much as I’ve wanted to this year, so they’ll get a good flavor by doing this. They seem to do really well with all the labs that are hands-on with all materials.”

Drath said without the STEAM grant from Central Wisconsin Electric Cooperative, purchasing the rocket kits would not have been possible.

“This was more than we have in our science budget,” Drath said. “This was way above and beyond what we could have ever done without it (STEAM grant).”

She added, “For a small school district, for science, we just got new curriculum books, so getting any extra money to do things like this is appreciated.”