Duke Energy grant to fund middle school STEM kits

Celebrating a grant award for STEM learning from the Duke Energy Foundation to LCPS in partnership with the Center for Inquiry-Based Learning are, from left, front, science teachers Taylor Pittman of E.B. Frink Middle School and Anna Rouse of Woodington Middle School; Millie Chalk, district manager for government and community relations at Duke Energy; LCPS Associate Superintendent Frances Herring; back row, Rochelle Middle science teacher Odie Leaven, Todd Guentensberger of the Center for Inquiry-Based Learning; and Contentnea-Savannah K-8 School science teacher Patrick Phelps.

Sixth and seventh grade science students will have fun studying some principles of physics this school year thanks to a grant to Lenoir County Public Schools from the Duke Energy Foundation.

The grant for nearly $12,000 will fund hands-on STEM learning activities at Woodington, Rochelle and E.B. Frink middle schools, Contentnea-Savannah K-8 School and Lenoir County Learning Academy. It was awarded to LCPS and the Center for Inquiry-Based Learning (CIBL), the school district’s partner in this STEM activity, earlier this month.

STEM kits provided by CIBL will help sixth graders learn about energy and waves and help seventh graders learn about machines, energy, force and motion. The kits include teacher guides and materials used in the hands-on activities.

Middle school science teachers using the kits will provide CIBL feedback on the impact of the kits on learning in their classrooms.

“LCPS is excited to have the kits available to all sixth-grade students as we continue our STEM focus preK-12,” Dr. Amelia McLeod, director of middle school education for the district, said. “These science kits foster a love for science in all students. We want all students to embrace the concepts of science.”