In Sultan STEM program, students get their hands dirty
Published 4:29 pm Wednesday, March 2, 2016
SULTAN — Stumps and piles of sticks are littered around a woodsy area outside a school here.
An outdoor classroom is taking shape as Sultan High School students clear blackberries to make room to grow native plants and trees. They’re building a covered shelter so rain won’t keep them from learning science, technology, engineering and mathematics outside.
STEM programs that take advantage of 32 acres of open space around Sultan High are now a model for other schools across Washington.
Students are growing sustainable gardens, using recycled materials to build projects, and doing forest restoration work. They also are raising salmon in the school hatchery.
The programs being taught with limited resources in Sultan caught the eye of officials from the state superintendent’s office during evaluations in January.
“They wanted to see that we’re focused on what we can do — not what we can’t,” Principal Tami Nesting said. “Everybody does hands-on. They wanted to see that our learning applies to kids when they leave the building.”
Sultan High has earned a $20,000 grant and the distinction of being among five schools and one district selected as Lighthouse Programs for the state. As such, they help other Washington schools come up with ways to teach STEM.
Sultan’s grant money will provide new science equipment, including forensics tools to analyze DNA, instruments to test water for salmon and supplies for students to build a robot.
State Superintendent Randy Dorn is scheduled to visit the high school March 18 to present the high school’s latest honor. It follows recent accolades and grant awards, including $48,000 from the state for the sports medicine program.
Science teachers Karissa Kelley and Ryan Monger received national recognition in 2015 for their work. They’ve come up with ways to teach biology, chemistry and forensics lessons outdoors.
Students are helping expand outdoor classes, too. They’re working on a space to house animals such as emu and chickens for a new science program that is expected to start next year.
Eventually, they want to use the food they’re growing in gardens for a student-run cafe and open a farmers market.
“That’s what I love about this school,” Nesting said. “ We get kids involved in doing it.”
It’s not just science students who are taking advantage of the natural surroundings.
Those in shop classes are helping with building projects. Reading, researching and writing is taking place outside.
English teacher Don Grose has students studying Henry David Thoreau’s “Walden” in a grassy space on campus.
Some are even staying after school to work on outdoor projects.
One group is planning a labyrinth. They’ll lay river rocks in a circular path to make a maze for moving meditation.
Others are designing what they call an “Earthship.” It’s a space fashioned from old tires and other recycled materials that has environmentally friendly features.
Students are making plans to convert a rusty, old shipping container into a clubhouse.
“It gives them hands-on experience with something they never thought about doing before,” Grose said.
Amy Nile: 425-339-3192; anile@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @AmyNileReports
