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Lower School Goes To Mars!

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People have long wondered what it would be like to visit Mars, and this year Mrs. Peek’s STEM classes may have an opportunity to do just that.

Currently, a NASA rover by the name of Perseverance is on its way to Mars, scheduled to make a landing on February 18. As students prepare for the landing of the rover, they will be participating in lessons that will focus on different activities each week.

Week One: Mars VideoWeek Two: Design Rovers
Week Three: Mars Scavenger Hunt / Code a Rover
Week Four: Make Mars Helicopter (via the Computer)
Week Five: Celebrate the Landing (Hopeful for a successful landing) 

Ms. Peek says that doing these types of STEM activities, “encourages students to be involved with exciting scientific achievements happening in the world. This also gives them a hands on approach and connection to the Perseverance mission. They are getting the chance to hear from members of the team that built this rover.”

With opportunities such as this, it is no wonder PCA students continue to shoot for the stars (and planets) in all that they do. 

Lower School Launches Science Explorers Club!

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Skyscrapers made of toothpicks and marshmallows, investigation of fingerprints via pieces of tape...these activities and many more can be found in this year's new after school program, the Lower School Science Explorers Club! Led by Upper School math teacher Rachel Tisdale, this program has already been met with great interest.

“When I was in elementary school,”  Tisdale explained, “I participated in several different extracurricular activities and these were such a positive and meaningful contribution to my life. After talking with several PCA lower school students, I found there was an interest in [students] getting involved in clubs in some way. I thought a science-related club would be great because kids love science, and our future depends on a population that can use science for personal decision-making and to participate in civic, political, and cultural discussions related to science.”

When asked what she hoped students would take from this club, Tisdale said, “I hope that by participating in the Science Explorers Club students not only gain an appreciation for the world God created through science and math, but also leadership, teamwork, and critical thinking skills. Science and engineering are about risk-taking and realizing that failure is an opportunity to learn and discover new things.”

The Science Explorers Club has 50 third, fourth, and fifth graders signed up. Currently, sign-ups are closed but may open up to new members later this year.

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