Students use leaf blowers to fly
Oct. 6—GAMEWELL — The floating students at Gamewell Elementary school weren't experiencing early Halloween spookiness, rather it was an engineering activity disguised as flying fun.
The Hovercraft Project is a large-scale, team immersive S.T.E.M. (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) and CORE (a curriculum that focuses on hands-on learning) integrated project, where students work together to create a fleet of fully functional, safe and reusable hovercrafts, according to Adrienne Dula, the school principal.
"When I was principal in Catawba County, we did this program for multiple schools there so I brought it here," she said. "It's awesome."
Dula says in addition to the academic benefits the project offers, it also builds the self esteem of children, as well as team working abilities.
"Two years ago we had it, and then COVID hit so we had to put it on hold, but we brought the project back this year with the support of the Ed Foundation and Blue Ridge Electric," she said.
Dula said most students say that it's the best day ever.
"They're having fun and they don't even realize that they're learning at the same time," she said. "It's great."
Reporter Candice Simmons can be reached at (828)610-8721
Reporter Candice Simmons can be reached at (828)610-8721
