FORT SILL, Okla. - Fifth graders were out in full force visiting different locations on Fort Sill for a lesson on why tough subjects like science and math will be useful to them in the future.
It's all part of STARBASE OK; a partnership between the Oklahoma Air National Guard, Fort Sill's Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation programs and Lawton Public Schools.
The hands-on approach is designed to inspire students to further explore science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
Over the course of five weeks of instruction, the students or "cadets" as they are known at STARBASE, attended classes one day a week inside the youth center on Fort Sill . They learned more about astronomy, rocketry, hydroponics and physics along the line of Sir Isaac Newton's laws of motion, with constant emphasis on team building. Cadets were also introduced to a new vocabulary, mathematical concepts, scientific processes and inquiry, problem solving and hands-on experiments to experience what they learned.
"How many of you sit in a classroom and ask why do I have to learn this?" asked Brad Carter, civil engineer.
Hands shot up from the Wilson Elementary students as they stood at the location of the future Joint Fires and Effects Trainer System site.
"When this building is finished it will be used to train Soldiers in a simulation environment before they go to Iraq or Afghanistan. Think of this kind of like 'Call of Duty' (video game) on steroids," said Carter.
A unanimous 'whoa' was voiced by the students as they could relate to the topic. Carter went on to explain how the facility is being created and used simple exercises to explain engineering terms like compression, tension and deflection. The students donned hard hats and were all too excited to volunteer to participate.
"In one year we've gone from nothing to doing the design, foundation and building the facility and then hopefully by next summer they'll already have the simulations running to train the Soldiers," said Carter.
One of the students asked if the class could be invited back once the facility was completed. Carter said unfortunately when his crew is done with a job they don't usually stick around.
Lindsay Ralston, Child Youth and School Services school liaison officer, said this teaching experience is all part of a Science Technology Engineering and Math program, and they display the jobs that are related to it.
"In fifth grade, test scores go down in math and science because the material gets more difficult. This program was designed to help them see they can do this," said Ralston.
During the sixth week, the classes have a field day where students have the opportunity to travel and experience real world activities that reiterate their classes.
The Wilson Elementary students were one of five groups that visited Henry Post Army Air Field, the Field Artillery Museum, the Planetarium and the JFETS site. They also spoke with a pilot at CYSS.
"It's a good program. They've enjoyed it, and they ask when they're going again. I think they're going to be sad when it's over," said Sandra Prince, Wilson Elementary fifth grade teacher. "I think it gives them an idea of why they're learning some of the things they're learning. And, just by talking to different people, it gives them a wide range of what types of careers they can choose."
For more than 15 years the Oklahoma Air National Guard has worked with students encouraging them to explore these fields.
Since its inception in 1993, STARBASE has established 54 academies in 33 states including the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. More than 350,000 students have taken part in the program.