Kudos to Lincoln Elementary Principal for Making Science Fun

I want to thank Michael Thomley, principal at  in Port Washington, for initiating and heading the Science After School Activity (ASA) this spring. This innovative approach to getting students interested and involved in hands-on science is exactly what is needed to encourage our children in furthering their interest in fields related to Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM).

I am on the STEM Project Advisory Team in the and one of our greatest challenges is encouraging more of our students to develop this interest at a young age, and retaining their interest as they continue through their education. In addition, we also face the challenge of getting more girls interested in STEM and retaining them through their middle and high school years.

Back to the Lincoln Science ASA. This is probably attended by just a group of half a dozen boys wearing pocket protectors and horn-rim glasses taped in the middle, right?

I mean this is an “After School Science  Activity” after all — how many kids would be interested in that? Surprisingly and consistently, there is a lot of students interested in this, the mix is slightly more girls to boys, and no one has pocket protectors or taped glasses! The session with third- and fourth-graders has about 30 students, while the Kindergarten through second-grade session has close to 60 students! 

The students are eager, excited and ready to learn about the afternoon’s activities. Occasionally, Thomley has to respectfully and authoritatively remind a few students that this is a voluntary activity that they are participating in, and that they may leave if they would like to carry on with their personal conversations, but — for the most part — these kids are excited and interested in getting into the activity. 

Speaking of activities, they have scoured the playground with magnifying glasses, getting an up-close and personal look at a world that normally is never noticed. They have experienced the wonders of static electricity, and they have practiced how to be a rocket scientist using balloons for propulsion.

One of the surest ways I know he has succeeded in encouraging an interest in science, is with my own third-grade daughter. Her world revolves around dance. She participates in dance classes, performances and competitions year-round, and when she’s not in an organized dance activity, she dances on her own. She loves to watch "Dance Moms." Later, on the day of the balloon rocket Science Activity, science had equal footing with dance because she worked on modifying and testing her balloon powered rocket while watching "Dance Moms" at home.

That is a sure sign of success!

Well done, Principal Thomley! This is precisely the type of innovative, outside-the-box approach needed and the right place to begin developing an interest in STEM with the students in our community. Keep up the good work in encouraging the development of an interest in learning STEM subjects with our children.