Turning Popsicle Sticks into an Engineering Work of Art
Thursday, February 9, 2012
By Liz Pratt
Popsicle sticks and glue may sound common for a classroom. But using an innovative, hands-on curriculum that introduces middle school students to CAD design and allows them to construct a bridge or high-rise model to scale is far from common.
This curriculum, called Project Lead the Way, encourages middle and high school students to embrace the areas of science, technology, engineering and math. It partners schools and industry leaders across the United States to promote STEM education in the local schools.
For the last several years, LG&E and KU have actively participated in Project Lead the Way – Kentucky as one of ten major partners across the state, and we’re proud to support Elizabethtown’s T.K. Stone Middle School and the district’s efforts to launch Project Lead the Way for its eighth grade students starting in the 2012-2013 school year.
This program was approved by the Elizabethtown Independent Schools Board during its January board meeting, and we’re committed to providing the computer equipment necessary to support the middle school’s Project Lead the Way classroom.
As a company where engineering and technology is so ingrained – from our day-to-day practices to our long-term projects – we realize the critical value in piquing students’ interest in these areas at an early age.
These young men and women are the foundation of our community’s future workforce and civic leaders, and we anticipate the positive impacts this program will have on student achievement.
Currently there are nearly 60 schools within our service territory participating in the Project Lead the Way Pathway to Engineering. This recent partnership is one of several company-wide initiatives that encourage opportunities for employees to promote career-readiness and STEM-related activities in local schools throughout our service territory.
Until next time, keep using energy wisely.
Popsicle sticks and glue may sound common for a classroom. But using an innovative, hands-on curriculum that introduces middle school students to CAD design and allows them to construct a bridge or high-rise model to scale is far from common.
This curriculum, called Project Lead the Way, encourages middle and high school students to embrace the areas of science, technology, engineering and math. It partners schools and industry leaders across the United States to promote STEM education in the local schools.
For the last several years, LG&E and KU have actively participated in Project Lead the Way – Kentucky as one of ten major partners across the state, and we’re proud to support Elizabethtown’s T.K. Stone Middle School and the district’s efforts to launch Project Lead the Way for its eighth grade students starting in the 2012-2013 school year.
This program was approved by the Elizabethtown Independent Schools Board during its January board meeting, and we’re committed to providing the computer equipment necessary to support the middle school’s Project Lead the Way classroom.
As a company where engineering and technology is so ingrained – from our day-to-day practices to our long-term projects – we realize the critical value in piquing students’ interest in these areas at an early age.
These young men and women are the foundation of our community’s future workforce and civic leaders, and we anticipate the positive impacts this program will have on student achievement.
Currently there are nearly 60 schools within our service territory participating in the Project Lead the Way Pathway to Engineering. This recent partnership is one of several company-wide initiatives that encourage opportunities for employees to promote career-readiness and STEM-related activities in local schools throughout our service territory.
Until next time, keep using energy wisely.
