Seventh-grade Leadership students pose for a group photo with their drones. Students will be highlighted in the PCS Edventures (a leading provider of K-12 STEM programs and a leader in the design and manufacturing of precision technology for drone racing and robotics) curriculum as contributors for being the first to try the Drone Designers curriculum.
Excited about drones
By Eric Valentine
Over the last month, seventh-grade Leadership students at Wood River Middle School in Hailey, under the guidance of educators Melanie Schrader and Erika Liebel, have participated in the Drone Designers pilot program.
Through a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) education program located in Boise, Liebel created a curriculum that teaches students to code and choreograph live drone performances to music. The students also create aerodynamic, lightweight costuming and lighting for the drones following the iterative design process for engineering.
The experience culminated in a live drone performance at Wood River Middle School in December. Here are some photos from the event.
Seventh-grade Leadership students pose for a group photo with their drones. Students will be highlighted in the PCS Edventures (a leading provider of K-12 STEM programs and a leader in the design and manufacturing of precision technology for drone racing and robotics) curriculum as contributors for being the first to try the Drone Designers curriculum.
Seventh-grader Stella Oelerich offers a hand-landing to protect the drone’s costume as the safety officer on her production team. The role is a favorite among students as it involves the most interaction with the drone performer.
Seventh-grader Zach Reed monitors the team’s drone and any issues with the first iteration of the drone costume as a safety officer.
Students test the drone costume prototype for weight and stability issues. Through the engineering design process, students learn early on that experimentation, reflection and redesign are key skills as drone designers. Students develop such soft skills as perseverance and problem-solving to arrive at a successful design.
