WEST LIBERTY, W.Va., Oct. 29, 2019 — West Liberty University’s students enrolled in the elementary education program held its second annual pumpkin drop today. The STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics) activity took place in the parking lot of the Academic, Sports and Recreation Complex (ASRC).
“Although it might seem like just a lot of fun, there are underlying STEAM concepts at play and it’s a lesson that students won’t easily forget,” said Melesa Swartz, who instructs students in teacher education, math and science classes.
Ohio County Partner-in-Education schools paired with WLU took part in the activity and arrived on campus by school bus. The students worked in groups prior to the event to create protective boxes for the Halloween pumpkins in preparation for the dramatic drop.
Schools attending included: Middle Creek, Steenrod and Madison Elementary schools.
“Students enjoyed using engineering skills to plan and construct their pumpkin projects,” Swartz said.
Volunteers from the West Liberty Volunteer Fire Department were on hand to ensure safety and to actually drop each group’s pumpkin from atop a ladder truck at 20 feet.
Inside the ASRC, six stations included: pumpkin volcanoes, weathering candy corn and gummy worms, physics pumpkin bowling, chemical change ghosts, supersaturated crystal pumpkins, and spider slime solutions.
Appropriate orange colored t-shirts were designed and imprinted with the statement “I Teach the Smartest Pumpkins in the Patch.” The shirts were designed and provided by WLU student Bennett McKinley and his wife Katie.
About 300 students participated in this year’s event and awards were given for the safest pumpkins to survive the drop.
WLU’s College of Education and Human Performance has educated countless teachers throughout the state and beyond. It is known for its degree programs in Teacher Education, Community Education, Exercise Physiology, Athletic Training and more.
For more information, please call 1.866.937.8542 (WESTLIB) or visit westliberty.edu.
