STEM intensive pairs Mount Holly fifth graders with military base
June 7, 2024 at 1:55 p.m.
From robotics to geography to creating clean water, the immersion in “hands-on, minds-on” STEM activities of the STARBASE program has left students in Sacred Heart School craving even more.
The Mount Holly school is one of several that have partnered with Joint Base McGuire-Dix Lakehurst Military base for its STARBASE program that began in 2022 – an intensive 20-25 hours of STEM-based learning designed for fifth graders in Burlington and Ocean counties, run by the Department of Defense throughout the year.
“This is an incredible opportunity for our fifth graders to dive into the exciting world of science, technology, engineering, and math – in a truly hands-on way,” said Joanna Barlow, Sacred Heart School principal. “STARBASE will spark their curiosity, challenge them with fun activities, and maybe even ignite a lifelong passion for STEM fields.”
One day a week beginning in early May, Sacred Heart School students were bused to the military base for a full school day to engage in a variety of grade-appropriate activities that tested and stretched their knowledge of the STEM field – and hopefully give them a leg up on foundational knowledge needed for sixth through eighth grades.
“In middle school, students are asked to begin applying their knowledge of STEM concepts [Science, Technology, Engineering and Math],” said Toni Hopkins, Sacred Heart middle school science teacher. “It is where they are asked to think, to apply and to extend their understanding of scientific concepts.”
Those concepts were explored in STARBASE, whose core curriculum has 27 objectives aligned with national standards. Students could experience activities such as learning about Newton’s Laws of Motion, fluid mechanics, building blocks of matter, how chemical fires are extinguished, how wounded are transported, and exploring the cockpit of an F-18 or interior of a submarine. Math is embedded throughout the curriculum, with students using metric measurement, estimation, calculation geometry and data analysis to solve questions. Teamwork is stressed as they work together to explore, explain, elaborate, and evaluate concepts.
Participants also had the opportunity to engage with military volunteers as positive role models, and with technological environments on base through tours and guest speakers.
“The lesson that has been my favorite was the CAD (Computer Aided Design),” said fifth grader Khyler McKierran, while classmate Yaw Konodu’s favorite lesson “was Eggbert, and protecting him from the ship crash, because it was very suspenseful.”
“I feel more likely to explore engineering, technology and science [after this program], because I want to be an engineer and a zookeeper when I grow up,” said Sacred Heart fifth-grader Ava Ashby.
Fellow student Christian Marte said, “I would study and explore more about science and engineering because I would try to invent a new creation to benefit this community.”
“I was most excited about the coding lessons with the LEGO robot and the mini golf robot,” said fifth-grader Grayson Stokes. “I love coding and I want to be a professional game engineer.”
Yvette Fortin, Sacred Heart School art teacher and marketing coordinator, found out about the program via a family liaison group. Acknowledging that the program helps students understand that the military “is not so one-dimensional; there are careers available not just as soldiers, but also moving into career paths and STEM-related fields,” she added that the students’ “robotics, CAD design, gyroscope vehicle will all be in the art show.”
A STARBASE instructor teaches Sacred Heart School students how to use precision measuring equipment.
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From robotics to geography to creating clean water, the immersion in “hands-on, minds-on” STEM activities of the STARBASE program has left students in Sacred Heart School craving even more.
The Mount Holly school is one of several that have partnered with Joint Base McGuire-Dix Lakehurst Military base for its STARBASE program that began in 2022 – an intensive 20-25 hours of STEM-based learning designed for fifth graders in Burlington and Ocean counties, run by the Department of Defense throughout the year.
“This is an incredible opportunity for our fifth graders to dive into the exciting world of science, technology, engineering, and math – in a truly hands-on way,” said Joanna Barlow, Sacred Heart School principal. “STARBASE will spark their curiosity, challenge them with fun activities, and maybe even ignite a lifelong passion for STEM fields.”
One day a week beginning in early May, Sacred Heart School students were bused to the military base for a full school day to engage in a variety of grade-appropriate activities that tested and stretched their knowledge of the STEM field – and hopefully give them a leg up on foundational knowledge needed for sixth through eighth grades.
“In middle school, students are asked to begin applying their knowledge of STEM concepts [Science, Technology, Engineering and Math],” said Toni Hopkins, Sacred Heart middle school science teacher. “It is where they are asked to think, to apply and to extend their understanding of scientific concepts.”
Those concepts were explored in STARBASE, whose core curriculum has 27 objectives aligned with national standards. Students could experience activities such as learning about Newton’s Laws of Motion, fluid mechanics, building blocks of matter, how chemical fires are extinguished, how wounded are transported, and exploring the cockpit of an F-18 or interior of a submarine. Math is embedded throughout the curriculum, with students using metric measurement, estimation, calculation geometry and data analysis to solve questions. Teamwork is stressed as they work together to explore, explain, elaborate, and evaluate concepts.
Participants also had the opportunity to engage with military volunteers as positive role models, and with technological environments on base through tours and guest speakers.
“The lesson that has been my favorite was the CAD (Computer Aided Design),” said fifth grader Khyler McKierran, while classmate Yaw Konodu’s favorite lesson “was Eggbert, and protecting him from the ship crash, because it was very suspenseful.”
“I feel more likely to explore engineering, technology and science [after this program], because I want to be an engineer and a zookeeper when I grow up,” said Sacred Heart fifth-grader Ava Ashby.
Fellow student Christian Marte said, “I would study and explore more about science and engineering because I would try to invent a new creation to benefit this community.”
“I was most excited about the coding lessons with the LEGO robot and the mini golf robot,” said fifth-grader Grayson Stokes. “I love coding and I want to be a professional game engineer.”
Yvette Fortin, Sacred Heart School art teacher and marketing coordinator, found out about the program via a family liaison group. Acknowledging that the program helps students understand that the military “is not so one-dimensional; there are careers available not just as soldiers, but also moving into career paths and STEM-related fields,” she added that the students’ “robotics, CAD design, gyroscope vehicle will all be in the art show.”
A STARBASE instructor teaches Sacred Heart School students how to use precision measuring equipment.