JAY – A collaborative math project took place last week as students in the Spruce Mountain Area Robotic Teams (SMART) helped teach the importance of accurate measurements to 4th graders in RSU #73.

Advisor Dan Lemieux began this measurement project where the younger students use measurements to create a key rack. If the measurements are off, the finished product will not have equal spacings between each key holder nor will the rack be level when hung on a wall.

Lemieux started the hands-on teaching unit with the assistance of an International Paper grant. It has continued since then with help from his classes and students in the SMART robotics program. All 4th grade students in the district participate.

Lemieux said, “SMART robotics is committed to advancing respect and appreciation for engineering within the school and the community.” The fourth grade measurement unit is one of the many ways SMART reaches out to the community to promote engineering. Projects such as this are also a key part of awards the SMART team has earned during competitions.

Good measurement skills relate to even the simplest building project. Those skills along with science, technology, engineering, art, and math skills (STEAM) are essential to many careers.

4th grade students from Jay Elementary School on Friday were first asked to review the various marks found on a ruler. They identified the difference between 1/2, 1/4, 1/8 and 1/16 of an inch on the ruler and were given tips on ways to make measuring faster and easier when dealing with measurements such 5/8 of an inch.

Each student was then given a block of wood. After drawing a pattern onto the wood, they were then asked to use several different measurements to use as guides for the screw holes and 4 spots where hooks to hold keys would be placed.

The students helped cut the pattern out, sanded their rack, and then applied a fast drying stain before carefully screwing the hooks in.

After the key racks were finished, the students then were quizzed on the various measurements that had been used. The quiz reinforced even more what they had learned. The first person to correctly answer the question received a ‘Smartie’ candy as a reward.

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