Students Learn About Science Of Baseball

From CCSD: Students on the 7th grade Lookout Mountain team at E.T. Booth MS have been learning about the science behind the sport of baseball as the center of their STEM classroom activities this spring. Students and teachers celebrated the end of the unit this week with a visit from Atlanta Braves mascot "Blooper," along with prize giveaways of Braves tickets and memorabilia.

Through a CCSD partnership with the Atlanta Braves, the Booth MS team teachers were able to work with Science of Sport, a nonprofit organization that develops curriculum with the sole focus of bringing sports and STEM subjects together. The new curriculum was a "home run" with students and teachers, and is expected to be expanded to other CCSD middle schools next school year, as the district focuses on increasing the STEM rigor in its middle schools. Science teacher Kara Reeder said students engaged in activities such as building simple machine baseball players that could hit a ball; learning about trajectory and launch angle by studying home runs and taking batting practice; using mathematic concepts in laying out a strike zone and graphing coordinates; and learning about reaction time. "The science of baseball allowed us to use 21st Century STEM skills for a fun and authentic project," said Ms. Reeder. "It's always fun to keep kids engaged at the end of the school year. To have a program that incorporates both the fun of baseball with something academic that we can tie in, is the perfect marriage.

It's been really engaging for them and enjoyable for us as teachers."The excitement about the STEM activities spread to reading classes where students read about famous baseball players and wrote persuasive letters to the Woodstock City Council asking them to consider bringing a minor league team to the city.Aron Rooze with Science of Sport said he enjoyed watching the Booth MS students have fun while learning. "The time in the classroom is the most fantastic part of my job," said Rooze. "Seeing the kids and teachers engaged and using the suggested activity to learn a lesson is amazing. That is the true ultimate outcome that we want to have - for kids to have fun learning about STEM and be able to take the lesson they've learned and transfer it to all areas of their lives. "We love working with Cherokee County and are looking forward to expanding the program in the future," he said.The Atlanta Braves will feature a showcase of the students' work at the game on Sunday, May 20 at SunTrust Park. Weather permitting, the Booth MS students also will coordinate and host a wiffle ball game with teachers during the final days of school next week. Photo IDsBMS Science of Baseball (1)- Atlanta Braves mascot Blooper throws a pitch to the ET Booth MS Falcon at a celebration with the 7th grade Lookout Mountain team students. BMS Science of Baseball (2)- Booth MS teachers, from left, Annissa Hackney, Scott Ehlers and Kara Reeder welcome Blooper to their celebration of finishing the Science of Baseball unit. BMS Science of Baseball (3)- Hannelore Harmen, sitting, tries to catch a baseball card in a reaction time exercise with Blooper. Hayden Hicks, standing, waits his turn. "This is harder than it looks," Hayden said. BMS Science of Baseball (4) Ms. Hackney prepares to hit a pitch thrown by Ms. Reeder as Mr. Ehlers and Blooper play catcher. BMS Science of Baseball (5) Students Colton Milam and Myles Williams performed the classic "Who's on First" skit for their classmates.BMS Science of Baseball (6) Kara Reeder and Blooper.BMS Science of Baseball (7) Blooper gets students engaged in the next lesson.BMS Science of Baseball (8) Mr. Ehlers and Blooper with the team of students. BMS Science of Baseball (9) Semaj Givens accepts a prize from Blooper in the raffle drawing. Students earned raffle tickets for good behavior and hard work during the baseball unit.BMS Science of Baseball (10) Ms. Reeder, Blooper and the Booth Falcon give away prizes to students.BMS Science of Baseball (11) Cade Boling picks up an autographed picture of a Braves player.

Image Via CCSD