Field Goals: Jackson Middle School students team for S.T.E.A.M. activity
Jackson Middle School seventh-grader Samantha Farinash, right, measures the “yardage” between a kicking device and goalposts during an activity in her science class Thursday as classmates Olive Nahley, left, and Aspen Covert prepare for another kick. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
Jackson Middle School seventh-grader Aspen Covert, center, uses a device to kick a field goal with a ping pong ball as classmate Olive Nahley, left, steadies it and classmate Samantha Farinash holds the goalposts in their science class Thursday. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
Jackson Middle School seventh-grader Jack Winebrenner, right, uses a device to attempt a field goal kick with a ping pong ball as classmate Jace Kinser tries to catch it during a S.T.E.A.M. activity in their science class Thursday. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
Jackson Middle School seventh-grader Isaiah Cunningham, right, uses a device to launch a ping pong ball at a set of miniature goalposts as classmate Jack Winebrenner watches during a S.T.E.A.M. activity in their science class Thursday. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
Jackson Middle School seventh-graders, from left, Cameron Coffman, Mikhal Neff and Devin Kittoe assemble a device to kick field goals with a ping pong ball during a S.T.E.A.M. activity in their science class Thursday. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
Jackson Middle School seventh-graders Jacob Mounts, left, and Ryder Freshour assemble a device to kick field goals with a ping pong ball during a S.T.E.A.M. activity in their science class Thursday. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
Jackson Middle School seventh-graders Eillie Phillips, left, and Hannah Przekurat assemble a device to kick field goals with a ping pong ball during a S.T.E.A.M. activity in their science class Thursday. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
Jackson Middle School seventh-grader Samantha Farinash, right, measures the “yardage” between a kicking device and goalposts during an activity in her science class Thursday as classmates Olive Nahley, left, and Aspen Covert prepare for another kick. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
Jackson Middle School seventh-grader Aspen Covert, center, uses a device to kick a field goal with a ping pong ball as classmate Olive Nahley, left, steadies it and classmate Samantha Farinash holds the goalposts in their science class Thursday. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
Jackson Middle School seventh-grader Jack Winebrenner, right, uses a device to attempt a field goal kick with a ping pong ball as classmate Jace Kinser tries to catch it during a S.T.E.A.M. activity in their science class Thursday. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
Jackson Middle School seventh-grader Isaiah Cunningham, right, uses a device to launch a ping pong ball at a set of miniature goalposts as classmate Jack Winebrenner watches during a S.T.E.A.M. activity in their science class Thursday. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
Jackson Middle School seventh-graders, from left, Cameron Coffman, Mikhal Neff and Devin Kittoe assemble a device to kick field goals with a ping pong ball during a S.T.E.A.M. activity in their science class Thursday. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
Jackson Middle School seventh-graders Jacob Mounts, left, and Ryder Freshour assemble a device to kick field goals with a ping pong ball during a S.T.E.A.M. activity in their science class Thursday. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
Jackson Middle School seventh-graders Eillie Phillips, left, and Hannah Przekurat assemble a device to kick field goals with a ping pong ball during a S.T.E.A.M. activity in their science class Thursday. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
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VIENNA -- A special activity aimed to help Jackson Middle School students get a kick out of learning while practicing a variety of skills.
Students in Cherish George's science classes on Thursday assembled devices designed to kick a ping pong ball through a set of PVC pipe goal posts. It was a S.T.E.A.M. - science, technology, engineering, art and math - activity provided by the West Virginia University S.T.E.A.M. Technical Assistance Center, but "there's more to it than just the engineering," said Angie McDaniel, with the center.
In addition to figuring out the best angle and number of rubber bands to use to launch the ball, then documenting the angle and distance of their kicks, students had to employ "soft skills" like following instructions and working together.
"It takes all kinds of skills, and we want them to see that," McDaneil said.
Seventh-grader Olive Nahley called the activity "a fun way to learn."
She and her team of two other students were the first to assemble their device and get to the kicking portion of the exercise, pulling back the "foot" to send the ping pong ball flying toward its target.
"We found the best measurements, and we kept doing the best measurements a couple times to find out if it was right," classmate Aspen Covert said.
George said she didn't want students to settle for early success or get frustrated if it proved elusive.
"Scientists are always looking for ways to make things better," she said. Sometimes, the students "fail, and they learn it's OK."
George said Thursday's activity connects with a unit the class is doing on physics and force. However, all of the center's offerings, available free to middle and high schools throughout West Virginia, can support a variety of topics in many classes, not just science, she said.
"You can always tie them in to any lesson that you're doing," George said.
And they get students' attention.
"The kids love it," George said. "They're all engaged."
Evan Bevins can be reached at ebevins@newsandsentinel.com.