M.U.M.S. students take in outside learning experience

Students at Morris Upchurch Middle School were treated to an “outside of the classroom” learning experience Nov. 15.

Teachers and administrators planned an entire day dedicated to challenging students in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math and helping them make connections between the TEKS they are learning in class and the practical application of those skills in 21st century careers.

The day was broken up into three parts including coding classes taught by QCHS Project Based Learning Students, a STEAM activity provided by the NuMinds Enrichment Center out of Dallas and field trips to several area businesses.

Students in Mrs. Stringer’s Project Based Research classes at QCHS put on a different hat and became teachers for the day.

Each grade level rotated through classrooms where these high school students had prepared a lesson plan in advance and used the campus’ mobile chromebook labs to instruct fifth through eighth graders in the art of coding.

Students were excited to begin this learning process and will have more opportunities throughout the remainder of the school year.

Next, students were challenged by the instructors from NuMinds Enrichment Center out of Dallas to plan a musical concert. After dividing into groups, they planned, organized and budgeted for this event by choosing an artist, building a stage, creating a food truck with menu, and advertising the event while staying within the allotted budget.

This activity was facilitated by MUMS teachers and Nu-Minds staff, and students collaborated to come up with and execute some great ideas including lighting, an onstage mechanical bull, and a suspended stage.

Food trucks sold everything from tacos and tamales to hot dogs and cotton candy. The open ended activity with all its components allowed for every child to contribute and be successful.

The final component of the day was the field trips.

Fifth and sixth grade classes toured the Lake Wright Patman Dam with the Corp of Engineers and the Bowie Cass Electric Mobile Substation in Douglassville while the seventh and eighth grade classes toured the Ward Timber Sawmill in Linden and the Texas Department of Transportation Design Lab in Atlanta.

The students learned about the career opportunities that each business offers and the importance of each of them in our everyday lives. They were able to see the daily operation of each, how they work and serve our community, and learn about what is needed in order to work at these jobs.

The STEAM Extravaganza was planned to coincide with Generation Texas (GenTx) month which encourages students to begin looking at college and career opportunities.

MUMS principal, Susan Childress closed the day with this, “This event was a huge success with lots of engagement and connections being made. We definitely plan to make it a yearly event.”