WACO students Traic Bird, Reece Oswald, and Ty Egli work on their egg tower; photo courtesy of Washington County Extension

WACO elementary students are learning about biomechanical engineering. As part of their +1 elective program in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics curriculum, or STEM, the school district invited Amy Green of the Washington County Extension Office to teach a class on the subject. The program allows students to choose elective courses they attend every other Friday this semester, with a focus on the STEM subjects. Green, who taught a class in the spring about agricultural engineering, is teaching 4th-6th grade students a program called “Put a Lid On It,” which focuses on safety helmets.

The children in the class will have the opportunity to look at a variety of helmets and learn about their purposes, and will make their own model helmets to test on mannequin heads. Green said the class has proven to be messy, since they’re working with eggs, pasta noodles, and paintballs in their tests. She enjoys her time working with the students, especially their energy and enthusiasm. Her course was one of several STEM electives students had the option of taking in the +1 program. Green will likely teach another course next semester, though she’s unsure what the topic might be. To hear more from Green, listen to today’s In Touch with Southeast Iowa program.