THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, June 10, 1994 TAG: 9406080185
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 02B EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LAURIE WHITLEY ROGERS, CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: 940610 LENGTH: Medium
The kids used these science principles to design and build skimmers that sailed across cafeteria tables at the '94 World in Motion Skimmer Regatta.
{REST} ``A World in Motion'' is one of many programs sponsored by Siemans Automotive Engineering in hopes of getting kids hooked on science.
The Thoroughgood PTA and the fifth-grade teachers, along with Susan Fullerton, Thoroughgood parent and engineer, worked together to bring this science enrichment program to the students.
Building a skimmer was not taken lightly by the children. They worked in small design teams for five weeks before completing and launching their vessels at the regatta recently.
Each week they explored a basic science principle and applied it practically to the design of their skimmers.
Among other things, the teams made decisions concerning size, weight, shape and placement of the sail, the mast and the rudder.
The skimmers were constructed of cardboard, paper, straws and clay with the option of adding other materials.
The sailors had a choice of surfaces on which to race: wax paper, aluminum foil, straws or plain tables.
The object was to apply the science principles to create a boat that would skim the farthest without tipping over.
All boats were powered by air (from a balloon attached to a turkey baster).
``It's wonderful to offer the kids a hands-on project like this,'' said Linda Herndon, fifth-grade teacher. ``It's really promoted an interest in science.''
The competition was stiff during the regatta, but the kids were good sports, cheering on each team as it raced its skimmer.
In the end, the Thunder Crashers and the Five Musketeers design teams were awarded T-shirts for skimming the farthest, but all the kids were declared winners for building well-designed boats.
``This was really different. Instead of the teacher telling you, you could do it yourself. I learned about how a sail on a skimmer catches the wind, and how if the sail is too high, the boat will tip over,'' said Shikha Chaturvedi.
Kathryn Young said, ``Now I have a different point of view about science. World in Motion made it interesting and fun, and now I think I'll like (science) better in class.''
Trip Colden said he used to think science was boring, ``but science is more fun when you get to do it hands-on.''
Trip and Shikha both said they'd now consider a career in science. Although Kathryn has a new view of science, she said she's sticking with television journalism as her career choice.
Harndon said this project was quite an undertaking, and she was quick to give credit to the dozens of parents who helped the design teams and to PTA board members Sheila Gunter and Jill Blackmore for coordinating the project.
The PTA is more than just bake sales these days. ``We believe that offering enrichment activities to students should be the main purpose of the PTA, Blackmore explained. ``This project was a positive experience for everyone involved, and we hope the PTA moves more and more in this direction. In fact, we're forming a committee over the summer to plan similar activities for every grade level next year.''
by CNB