MTU Science and Engineering Class offered to Elementary and Middle School Students

Keweenaw area students who have an interest in science and engineering are being given a chance to take a hands on approach to some extra curricular activities. Michigan Tech is hosting three upcoming after school classes covering biology, aerospace, and computer technologies.

Animals, rockets, and the cyber world, are the selected subjects for the course.

“We always make our classes very hands on because after a long day at school, students are kind of tired. We’re not trying to fill them with information but to really engage them in science,” says MTU Professor Joanne Chadde of the Science and Engineering Department.

Classes start January 22nd at the Great Lakes research center and run until feb 28th.

1st and 2nd graders will learn about animal habitats and how different species interact with each other and the environment.

3rd, 4th and 5th graders get to build and test rockets while learning about the physical characteristics of lift and propulsion.

And middle school aged students will be building web sites and databases while applying their newly acquired knowledge to solve ecology problems.

‘In The class well also be looking at real world data and collecting real world data with G.I.S. units and solving a bunch of different natural resource problems. We’ll be looking at certain invasive species that have been originating in the Midwest and where they might go so that land managers and scientists can better direct their interests and their studies in those areas.’- Instructor, Brian Doughty.

These hands on explorations are taught by MTU science and engineering students who will be returning from break within the next week.

Chadde says ‘Students an of course their parents and guardians who are interested in having the kids attend, they can contact the center for science and environmental outreach at Michigan Tech. The kids have a lot of fun and we have lots of returning students so we hope to see some new ones as well.

Registration and more information can be found at csco.mtu.edu.