After learning about the STEM program at our local university a few weeks ago, I spoke with Lily about her interest and upon her request began the process of trying to get her accepted, given that the requirement was a minimum of 4th grade. As we are not utilizing “grades” and she already meets about half of the CDE’s 4th grade expectations, I gave it a shot. Luckily, the head of the Astronomy at the school happens to know Lily well enough to be able to suggest considering her inclusion. And his immediate director, the Director of the Physics Dept, has his ear.
So, after a couple of emails back and forth, the administration decided to go out on a limb and give her a chance at what they have determined to use as an experiment for inclusion of exceptional students (i.e., allowing those that don’t fit the typical box of requirements for one reason or another to enroll and take part in the program).
This first session she has been able to participate in is “Optics, Astronomy, and the Sky” and was held last Saturday (4 hour morning session). She was in a group with 5th through 8 grade students, and got to play with prisms, lenses, mirrors, projection, and made a telescope. This program (STEM, Science Technology Engineering & Mathematics) is one that is offered through universities across the country to their community’s children, and Lily did exceptionally, I think She was particularly fortunate to have a brilliant young partner who took her under his wing and was absolutely wonderful with her as his teammate.
We went to lunch after her session, and then out for coffee/steamer at a local coffee house, at which she proclaimed the day being “the best day ever!”. I think it was a success. 🙂
She has a second session toward the end of May on robotics. And in the mean time, she and Russ and I are building her first programmable, Arduino powered robot.
Today we spent the morning discovering the beauty of math found in nature, and what Pi and Tau sound like when put to music. I’ll post on her blog the various videos and explorations we have been focusing on the last week or two, for any who might be interested.
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The following is an email exchange between me and the astronomy professor that led the session.
Robert,
Just a thought to bring you a smile…After we left last Saturday, and after we had lunch, we were getting coffee and Lily exclaimed that, “Today is the best day ever!”.I asked her to expound a bit…She launched into a 10 minute long monologue, telling Russ all about the morning part that he wasn’t there for, explained to him how to make a telescope, reviewed the images I took during the session, and went on and on about the various lenses, projection, and then they started talking about fiber! Russ uses fiber for his work all the time, but his fiber enables verbal communication and data transfer. Your light through the tube turned into a discussion of binary, data, RF, and how light travels.Then came the phone call to grandma that night, which I didn’t listen to intently, but she held a captive audience for almost 30 minutes, telling my parents about “going to college for science”.I’d say it was a success. She absorbed more than I thought she had.Thanks for spending your Saturday morning with them and for giving her a chance. On Monday, she built a telescope out of a couple magnifying glasses of hers and a length of PVC typically used for vaulting onto the couch, and after watching Galileo today, devised a “spyglass” for prism play (sort of like a kaleidoscope, but her style), verbalizing some of the concepts she picked up from the session.Well done._____Hi Angie,
Wow! She is an incredible little girl! It was a pleasure to have you both in the class, and it does make me smile to know that she got so much out of it.
Giving her a chance was a no-brainer from my perspective. Lily is definitely worth some investment when it comes to educational opportunities!
Thank you very much for the note. You brightened up my week!
Robert
For more pics see Google+
