Sep 28th, 2012

LAKE WALES – A special group of girls at Edward W. Bok Academy are giving up part of their lunchtime on Fridays to learn more about science.

The girls – as many as 60, or more – have signed up for a weekly STEM program offered by the Girl Scouts of West Central Florida. This is the second year that Bok Academy has partnered with the Girl Scouts on STEM (science, technology, engineering and math).

“This is a great opportunity for the girls who want to take advantage of it,” said Principal Damien Moses. “We appreciate our partnership with the Girl Scouts, and the wonderful STEM resources and materials that they are sharing with our girls.”

On Friday (Sept. 28), a group of about 15 sixth grade girls began their session by discussing noise – what kinds of noise are distracting, and how noises or sounds are transmitted through space and solids.

Next, the program facilitator challenged the girls to create musical instruments. Working in teams, the girls used common-place objects to construct instruments or noise-makers. The girls also had to create an inventory list of every item they used during the construction of their instruments, and determine the cost of construction.

Supported in part by United Way funding, this year’s program will focus in large part on wind energy and air pollution – topics that fit in with Bok Academy’s science curriculum. Content for the program will be provided mainly by Girl Scouts’ book Breathe!, part of a series designed specifically for girls in grades 6-8.

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PHOTO: Sixth grader Adrianna Alcantara shows off pieces of a musical instrument that she built during Friday’s weekly STEM program.

PHOTO: Delayne McBee, a sixth grader, works with wood blocks and a paint stirrer to create a musical instrument.

PHOTO: Caitlyn Haskell (facing camera) works on a list of “noises” that create distractions.