Forty-three GEAR UP sixth grade students from Coalgate Public Schools recently toured the Science Museum Oklahoma. Students spent the day exploring the home to 350,000 square feet of hands-on science experiences, art, and history.
The students enjoyed the Science Floor, the heart of the museum with hundreds of activities to teach, entertain and astound. Students learned to drive a Segway, draw spiral grams with a large pendulum, and experience a tornado in the weather station. Another popular exhibit was Power Play which had several interactive elements and physical challenges including a rock wall, a two-person timed 50-foot dash course, a vertical jump, and a gymnastics course.
The visit concluded with a presentation “Tonight’s Sky” in the Dome Theater of the Kirkpatrick Planetarium. Students learned about the solar system in the immersive sky theater which can accurately display the stars, moon and planets from any location on Earth.
“The students had such a fun experience that they did not realize they were also gaining knowledge,” said GEAR UP Education Coordinator Denise Lovell. “An important part of the GEAR UP grant is allowing students to explore life beyond the classroom and encouraging them to experience new pathways.”
The field trip was sponsored by Eastern Oklahoma State College GEAR UP. Participating schools take two field trips each academic year—one to tour a college or university and one that is cultural/educational in nature. Eastern recently received a $17 million federal GEAR UP grant and will serve over 3,000 students in 39 area schools for seven years.