Students build their own courses
ADAMS TWP — Students at Mars Area Centennial School practiced their putts and swings on homemade mini-golf courses as part of a collaboration between the school's Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math (STEAM) and physical education curriculum.
Sara Coon, health and physical education teacher at Mars Centennial, worked with STEAM teacher Chris Churilla to create the project. The idea came about last year, but was pushed ahead due to COVID-19.
“The kids are having a really fun time with it, they really are,” Coon said. “I'm super excited to collaborate with Chris. The kids get to create, and then play.”
Sixth-grade students worked in groups to build the courses, with themed concepts such as “Disney,” “Famous Landmarks” and “Space!” Churilla said. Fifth- and sixth-grade students have the chance to play golf on the courses during gym class.“Each group got a portion of that hole to put together, and they used copy box paper lids as the base and a whole bunch of maker materials — recyclables and things people donate, like bottle caps and toilet paper tubes,” Churilla said. “Each group had to choose a certain obstacle, and they could build a ramp or obstruction or tunnel the ball would have to go through.”The project combines creative arts with math and athletic activities, Churilla said.
“We talked a little bit about angles because I know they talk about angles in math, trying to figure out if it is too steep or with the force (applied) be able to get the ball up that angle as well,” he said. “That's pretty much what STEAM is all about, encompassing multiple different subjects and taking their classroom learning and applying it with multiple different subject areas, just like they would in the real world.”In physical education class, Coon also is teaching students about “lifelong sports” they can participate in long-term to stay active.“I'm sure a lot of these kids have grandparents who play golf, and you can play golf for a long time,” she said. “I'm trying to get them introduced to things they can do for their whole life. There's a golf course right here in Mars, and some of them live by Treesdale. Some of them really know how to putt, and how to play, and how to keep score.”Churilla and Coon hope to continue the project in future years.“This is our first year we are doing this, but we are hoping maybe it will become a yearly thing,” Churilla said. “So far, it has been a success. Our goal is if we make this a yearly thing, the fifth-graders will get to play it. They'll get ideas and get excited to be able to do that project next year.”
