Inside Sandpoint High School’s gym, elementary school students participated in the annual Science Circuit. SHS students from three honors science classes were tasked with creating a science-based project that involved hands-on learning. According to Mike Martz, a physics teacher at SHS, this event serves as the students’ final project and allows them to experience being a teacher.
Kari Grainer, assistant principal at SHS, mentioned that she appreciated students being able to choose their own topics and take ownership of their learning. The event featured various exhibits, including a bowling ball pendulum demonstration and a life-size model of the board game “Operation.” One of the highlights was students inflating cow lungs using a bicycle pump to demonstrate how the organs work.
The Science Circuit event was temporarily suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic due to space constraints, but it has since resumed. Grainer took over the planning from Mamie Jennings, the SHS science teacher who started the event over a decade ago. The event helps students solidify their understanding of scientific concepts, as evidenced by students in freshman physics classes recalling what they learned from past Science Circuits.
Overall, the event was praised for its educational value and the passion and effort students put into creating engaging experiences for fifth and sixth graders. The annual Science Circuit provides a unique opportunity for students to showcase their knowledge and creativity in a hands-on environment.
