Hands-on aerospace lessons returning to Prairie Elementary School with Civil Air Patrol
ADRIAN — As part of its mission to develop and educate youth in the field of aerospace education and promoting general aviation, the Adrian Civil Air Patrol will continue a partnership with Adrian Public Schools that brings a “unique aerospace experience” to students at Prairie Elementary School.
All Prairie Elementary students will be part of the Civil Air Patrol’s Aerospace Connections in Education — ACE — program from noon to 3:20 p.m. Thursday, May 2, at both the Prairie Elementary School campus and at the Adrian CAP building at the Lenawee County Airport.
Activities will start at the school with learning sessions given by classroom teachers with grade-specific topics. The fourth and fifth grade students will be able to travel to the nearby county airport for their learning sessions with CAP and local flight training and pilot school SkyWalker Aviation.
The Aerospace Connections in Education program is a free, hands-on, fun and engaging Aerospace/STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education program for educators who are part of the Civil Air Patrol Aerospace Education Members program teaching in grades kindergarten through eighth grade, a news release said. The ACE program connects all subjects to aerospace with lessons that seek to inspire children to learn more about STEM careers. Students will see how they can learn math, science, reading and social studies using aerospace education. ACE lessons also include academics, character education and physical fitness.
“Studying aerospace can inspire students to learn more about science and technology,” the release said. “It’s never too early to encourage an interest in STEM topics, planes, rockets, spacecraft and more that can launch young students into STEM adventures. Aerospace as a learning incentive works.”
The students and staff of Prairie Elementary and Adrian Public Schools are supported by members of Civil Air Patrol’s Adrian Composite Squadron, which meets each Tuesday from 7 to 9 p.m. at the CAP building.
The Civil Air Patrol was founded in 1941 and was established as the official civilian auxiliary of the United States Air Force seven years later. CAP is chartered by Congress as a nonprofit organization.
"We believe that the ACE program has a positive impact on our students' future career options by providing them with a strong foundation in STEM concepts and inspiring them to pursue careers in fields such as aviation, engineering and science. We are excited to see our students learn and grow through this program," Nate Parker, superintendent of Adrian Public Schools, said.
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Classroom teachers, meanwhile, receive guides that are grade-level specific with 22 lessons per guide and aligned with national academic standards. They can use the lessons in any order and as many as they like with their students, the release said. Entire schools can conduct the program during the school year and/or in after-school or summer enrichment programs. Museums, libraries, homeschool educators and other youth organizations can do the same.
Each ACE teacher receives free educational materials for each student provided at no cost to the school by the Civil Air Patrol.
Since the Aerospace Connections in Education program's inception 17 years ago, it has been in more 2,500 schools in all 50 states, reaching more than 700,000 students. Teachers report a 27% increase in science thinking skills using this program, the release said.
— Contact reporter Brad Heineman at bheineman@lenconnect.com or follow him on X, formerly Twitter: www.twitter.com/LenaweeHeineman.
This article originally appeared on The Daily Telegram: Aerospace lessons coming to Prairie Elementary School with Civil Air Patrol
