The Calhoun Intermediate School District’s Calhoun Area Career Center (CACC) Education Academy students hosted a Science Fair at Tekonsha Community Schools today! The CACC students offered a menu of hands-on science experiments throughout the day to Tekonsha’s elementary and middle school students. They were also joined by “Mr. Paul” Rheaume, a self-proclaimed lover of science and instructor of lifelong learning courses at Kellogg Community
College.
The Education Academy program at CACC prepares both juniors and seniors – Teacher Cadets – for the field of education after high school. The teacher cadets learn about the systems and instructional strategies in the field of education, and have real life experiences within local school classrooms throughout the year. The program also offers college credits that can transfer to colleges and universities in pursuit of a teaching degree.
Stephanie Barron, the Education Academy Instructor at CACC, who was herself an Education Academy Teacher Cadet and graduate of Battle Creek Central, said the event has been taking place for nearly 15 years and has recently been expanded to bring the program to more schools in the area.
The Science Fair provides an excellent learning opportunity for the teacher cadets. They help orchestrate the event, aiding in creating the materials necessary for each science station. Through the process of planning for and implementing the science fair, the students have an opportunity to learn more about how to be a teacher and how to make their lessons fun for the younger students.
Dylan Griffith, Tekonsha Senior and 2nd year Education Academy student said, "I am so grateful to be able to bring this amazing experience to my community."
Tekonsha’s students transitioned through six stations featuring hands-on activities designed to show students that science can be fun. The stations included everything from building volcanoes to riding a homemade hoverboard.
Preston Pombier, Tekonsha Senior and 2nd year Education Academy student said, "I think it's an amazing opportunity. It feels really good to bring something like this to our town. I am really excited to use the skills I've learned at the CACC back to my home school. It is going to be a very good experience not just for us, but for the kids too!"
“We are so excited to bring this experience to Tekonsha,” said Barron. “It is wonderful for our teacher cadet students to be engaged in teaching the younger students and to see the enthusiasm for science that they are sharing with each other.”