Project Lead the Way in Opelika Part 2

At Opelika Middle School, I was able to watch students in Ms. Melanie Montel’s Gateway to Technology class build a vehicle made out of paper that rode on air.  You can imagine that if a car is going to ride on air it has to be built to the correct specifications.  So, that is where the lessons began.  Students in the 7^th and 8^th grade learned about measurement and the different ways people have calculated measurements throughout history.  Students then applied the mathematical skills they had been taught since 1^st grade to convert those measurements.  Once students had the refresher on measurement, and were taught about precise measurements using dial calipers, the students were able to apply the information they learned to build their “Skimmer”.   I was able to walk around the room and observe students looking at schematics on their computer and then measuring and drawing the plans on their paper so that they could then cut out the different pieces to prepare for assembly.  For some this came very naturally, for others it was a struggle.  As I helped a few groups think about the assembly, I was constantly referring them to the directions and asking them to tell me what the directions told them to do.  To watch students go back and read a step for the third or fourth time and then see the light bulb come on when they figure it out never gets old.  Then to see the sense of accomplishment on the faces of students when they had finished the construction and saw their skimmer ride on air is why educators come to work every day.  All of the teaching on measurements and building skimmers culminated in a competition to see whose skimmer could ride the farthest.  Some came up short, but some exceeded expectations.  However, that was not the end of the unit.  After the competition, students were given the opportunity to make adjustments to their skimmers and try them again.  Success on this project was not measured only the distance a skimmer traveled, but on the students ability to learn from their mistakes and make their skimmer better.  The second day of the competition, most of the students made adjustments to their skimmers that increased the distance they traveled.  Just like the Kindergarten class at Carver, these students saw their failure as an opportunity to grow and get better.  Again, I can only imagine how this philosophy will positively impact their future education. 

As adults many of us know that failure happens and it means that we need to adjust what we did and try something different.  As parents and teachers, this is not always the case when it comes to our expectations for our students.  We see failure as a thing to be avoided rather than something to grow from.  After watching students at Carver and OMS I find myself thinking a lot about the question Ms. Montel has posted on her door at OMS, “What could you do if you were not afraid to fail?”

A short video of the PLTW activities at Carver and OMS can be found on YouTube by clicking on the link below.

Project Lead the Way in Opelika

Kyle Pinckard

Secondary Curriculum Coordinator

Career and Technical Education Director

Project Lead the Way in Opelika (Part 1)

How would you design a house that the Big Bad Wolf could not blow down?  How far can you make a paper car with no wheels travel across a gym floor?  These questions might not seem like school questions, but questions like these are challenging our students to think critically about a problem and work to solve it. 

At Carver Primary school, Ms. Rachel Loftin’s Kindergarten class read different versions of the “Three Little Pigs”.  After reading these stories, they were challenged to design houses that the Big Bad Wolf would not be able to blow down using only what the pigs used; twigs (toothpicks and Play-Doh), sticks (Popsicle sticks and masking tape), or bricks (sponges and glue).  Once each group got their materials, they had to brainstorm and draw out what their house would look like.  Then the fun began.  These 4 and 5 year old students were allowed to build a house using whatever method they wanted with the materials they were provided.  For almost 60 minutes these kindergarten students were engrossed with building a house.  I was amazed to watch these students try multiple ways of using their materials until they found a way that worked for them.  As I walked around and asked questions to groups, I found out that every group had a plan and knew what they wanted to do.  I will admit that it was hard for me to not jump in and tell the students the best way, but to allow them to explore and fail.  Yes, fail.  When they built something and it fell down, they did not give up.  They tried it again.  At the end of the class, students got to test their houses to see if Ms. Loftin could blow them down using a hairdryer.  To my surprise, many of them withstood the test.  One group that had worked extremely hard on their house made out of sponges came to test it against the hairdryer.  I was sure that this house would stand up to the test because this group had been pre-testing it by blowing on it every time they added another sponge.  Sadly, that was not the case and a side of their house fell down as the hairdryer blew on it.  I was sure the two students would be devastated.  Instead, I overheard one of them say, “That’s okay.  Let’s go make it stronger.”  These students saw failure as an opportunity to grow and not as a reason to give up.  I can only imagine how this philosophy will positively impact the future of their education.

Part 2 of “PLTW in Opelika” will be posted soon.

Kyle Pinckard

Secondary Curriculum Coordinator

Career and Technical Education Director

If you have never been to an Opelika High Theatre Society production, you have missed a real treat!  The first performance of this season is "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown", and it opens September 11 at 7:00 p.m. in the Opelika Center for the Performing Arts.  Other performance dates are Sept. 13 at 7:00 p.m., Sept. 14 at 3:00 p.m., and September 16, 17 and 18 all at 7:00 p.m.  It is always amazing to watch high school students perform at such a professional level.  Admission is $10 for adults and $7 for students, and be assured that you have paid a lot more for a lot less entertainment!

Theatre (which includes technical aspects as well as set production) is only one of the many art education offerings at the high school.  With two visual art teachers, two choral/showchoir teachers, two band directors, one video production/multi-media teacher, and one theatre teacher, there are many options for students to pursue.

Arts education begins far earlier.  While many systems have had to cut arts education programs, Opelika continues to support and fund these programs from high school all the way down to Pre-K.  Our system employs full time art and music teachers for our elementary schools which allows all elementary students to receive art and music instruction each week.  This continues into middle school where students have the opportunity to participate in band, visual arts and choir or showchoir.

Opelika City Schools have always been dedicated to supporting the arts and providing our students with experiences in the arts that will enrich and enhance their education.  Much of this would not be possible without the support we receive from the City of Opelika.  We are thankful to be a part of a community that values the arts and works hard to support arts programs.  We are proud to partner with the Arts Association of East Alabama in the Kennedy Center Partners in Education program.  This partnership began in 1996 is one of only three in the state of Alabama.

Make plans this year to attend performances by the Opelika High Theatre Society, the high school and middle school showchoirs and bands.  Your life will be enriched, and you will be glad you attended!

Dr. Bice's message to educators this year has been "Imagine".  In the Opelika City Schools we have been in the "imagine" mode of thinking for quite some time.  We have imagined being able to offer our students more career technical opportunities.  We have imagined students participating in engineering activites as early as Kindergarten.  We have imagined a curriculum that emphasized more critical thinking, problem solving and real life applications.  Our "imagine" thoughts have produced reality.  This year we have added additional Health Science Occupation courses and additional Technology Information courses in our Career and Technical Education department.  We have also added Project Lead the Way Launch curriculum at Carver Primary School where kindergarten students are engaged in hands on engineering activities.  Project Lead the Way Launch has also been added at Morris Avenue Intermediate where students experience application of aerodynamics and robotics.  And, implementing the Alabama College and Career Ready Standards in Math and English Language Arts has increased the teaching of critical thinking skills and problem solving.  It is great to be a part of the Opelika City Schools!