SIUE East St. Louis Center Offers STEM Program to Middle Schoolers
The week was full of dissecting frogs, making “elephant toothpaste,” operating drones and more, and the students couldn’t have been happier. Eight eager learners participated in Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis Center’s (ESLC) inaugural Middle School Scholars STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Program from Monday-Friday, July 24-28.
“We were pleased to offer middle school students an introduction to STEM curriculum,” said ESLC Executive Director Timothy Staples, EdD, who created and coordinated the weeklong program. “We want to help whet their appetite for STEM, and to encourage them to take advantage of our high school STEM programming.”
“The session was fun and educational,” said William Madlock, eighth grader at Lincoln Middle School in East St. Louis. “I learned more about the anatomy of frogs and humans. I enjoyed being able to see inside of a frog. It was cool.”
However, Brielle Foster, seventh grader at Lincoln Middle, did not share Madlock’s enthusiasm.
“It was kind of gross,” said Foster of dissecting frogs. She has plans on becoming an accountant. “I saw its liver, lungs, and I think it’s gallbladder. I never got to experience some of the things that I did during this program, like dissecting a frog.”
“I enjoyed learning about the respiratory system and blood cells,” she continued. “I learned white blood cells gets rid of mostly every germ in your body.”
Madlock had a good time making “elephant toothpaste.” “We had to mix hydroperoxide and dish soap with yeast and warm water,” he said.
Madlock plans on a career involving engineering and making drones, which is why he was excited when the class had the opportunity to fly them on the Edwardsville campus.
“We got to fly drones and look at them through an AR (augmented reality) headset,” explained Madlock. “I never had a chance to do that.”
At the conclusion of the program, each student presented their project of constructing an island that exists in the year 2100.
“The program was also designed for a select group of middle schoolers, with the intent on providing them with leadership-based activities,” said Tiana Montgomery, program instructor and program director for the ESLC’s Project Success.
Students came from Estelle Sauget School of Choice in Cahokia School District #187, Wyvetter H. Younge School of Excellence in East St. Louis School District #189 and Lincoln Middle School.
Other students participating in the program included: Larry Anderson, 8th grader at Estelle Sauget; JaSean Green, 8th grader at Lincoln; Briy’Lah McElrath, 8th grader at Wyvetter; Kenedee Mitchell, 7th grader at Estelle Sauget; Ja’Kira Nelson-McDougle, 8th grader at Estelle Sauget; and Rylee Scott, 8th grader at Wyvetter.
With a focus on empowering people and strengthening communities, the SIUE East St. Louis Center is dedicated to improving the lives of families and individuals - from pre-school through adult - in the Metro East. Head Start/Early Head Start and a charter high school are among the programs that offer the community renewed hope and an opportunity to reach educational, career and life goals. The Center also assigns priority to encouraging, supporting and improving the educational success of the residents of East St. Louis and surrounding urban communities. The Center provides comprehensive programs, services, and training in the areas of education, health, social services and the arts.
Photos:
(L-R): Ja’Kira Nelson-McDougle explains her project. The team of Rylee Scott and William Madlock break down the components of their island, while Briy’Lah McElrath provides details of her project.
(L-R): Shown are ESLC Executive Director Timothy Staples, EdD; students McElrath, Madlock, Brielle Foster, Nelson-McDougle, Scott, JaSean Green; and Program Instructor Tiana Montgomery.
