Students have a ball learning about science

The first day of school is weeks away, but STEM learning has been ongoing for students attending the Utica Community Schools Velocity Jr. summer camps.

For example, the week of August 4-8 saw kindergarten through second grade students take part in the program’s Sports Science camp. Each day involved a sports-related mystery to be solved by making predictions, conducting experiments and analyzing results.

The children delved into basic physics by measured various forces in action and analyzing the mechanics of pitching, navigating an obstacle course and sinking free throws.

While comparing the differences between kinetic and potential energy, the students made a surprising discovery. They found that a basketball bounced highest not on playground pavement or a tiled floor as they predicted, but on a classroom floor covered with indoor-outdoor carpet.

Using their own data on a memory test taken after vigorous play and again after a sedentary activity, they learned about the positive effect exercise can have on brain function. Writing and math skills also came into play as the children graphed their pulse rates and other vital signs.

Second grader Ania Popovski demonstrated how to take her carotid pulse. A young athlete who said she loves skiing and gymnastics, Ania observed that her heartbeat was “lots faster” after running an obstacle course than after a game of catch.

Fellow sports scientist William Cook hoped practicing putting just the right arch on his shot will improve his playground basketball skills when school reopens on September 2 and he tackles fourth grade.