Students from Bernice Young Elementary will be coming to visit physics classes to learn about different areas of physics starting March 8.

This project will be beneficial for physics students and for the children learning through hands-on activities. Senior Brittany Jackson plans on becoming a teacher in her future, so this particular activity will be beneficial to her especially.

“We’re using a pendulum with two different sizes of balls,” said Jackson, “and they’re going to measure the heights, so they’ll get into it.”

Coach Greg Simpson and Mrs. Leslie Pittman are anxiously anticipating the teaching project.

“Jackson wants to be a teacher, so this will definitely be a good for her,” said Coach Simpson.

Jackson’s partner in teaching the Young students is senior Sarah Newhouse.

“We’re teaching about conservation of energy as potential energy,” said Newhouse.

The point of the activity is to have  high school and elementary students learn about physics and work with others, as well as to have fun.

“We tried to do things they’d be interested in, to get them more involved,” said Jackson.

Another group teaching about potential energy was shared by juniors Avery Mackey and Cal Davies.

“We want it to be interactive,” said Davies, “so the kids are going to design roller coasters by measuring them and building the loops, so they get a hands-on activity.”

The part of the project that most benefits physics students is creating the learning activity for kids.

“We needed something to get their attention,” said Mackey, “and we did roller coasters earlier this year.”

The roller coaster project for Young students will likely be a popular one. Hands-on activities are engaging and create interest in learning physics. Junior Michelle Bush is doing it right, because her group will be applying physics concepts to hands-on construction activities. Part of teaching is the student’s reaction to the lesson plans.

“Either they’ll idolize us, or they’ll hate us,” said Bush.

Some students are bringing the teaching strategies down to the kid’s levels. Senior Richard Strouse will be teaching kids how to find the area and perimeter of shapes.

“I’ll draw them a picture,” said Strouse, “but they’ll probably react poorly to my teaching, because we can’t give them candy.”

Although there won’t be candy, there will be roller coasters, drawings, pendulums, and a lot of learning going on in the classrooms of Mrs. Pittman and Coach Simpson.