VAIL, Ariz. — Several schools in southern Arizona are starting the year with grants boosting their STEM education programs.
The Vail Innovation Center decided to invest in green screen technology giving students the ability to make movies about different science topics.
7th grade science students at The Vail Innovation Center are learning how to graph data after a fun marshmallow challenge.
“We had to build a structure with uncooked noodles and marshmallows,” said 7th Grader Adyson Ibarra. “And the marshmallow had to go on top.”
Some structures did better than others.
“We thought of a pyramid structure,” said Euan Dudek. “And did a pyramid structure and a lot of people didn't do a pyramid structure.”
VIC science teacher Jennifer Rozo says she loves lesson plans that help students connect with the material. That's why she jumped on a Rosemont Copper grant for expanding STEEAM or science, technology, engineering, environment, agriculture and math.
“We actually saw the grant, discovered that it existed, just two days before it was due.”
Rozo says they will be purchasing a green screen, so students can make their own science videos and present them in class.
“A green screen is a screen that is a shade of green that can be taken out digitally,” said Rozo. “When you take a video in front of the green screen you can take it out digitally to put something else in wherever the green screen is showing.”
Rozo says the marshmallow challenge was fun and engaging, but she can't wait to see what the students will do with a green screen at their disposal.
“I like to do the hands on projects and stuff,” said Dudek.
