STEM field trips can rule Fridays

Kaitlyn Larson is a split position teacher at Hanna, Elk Mountain, Medicine Bow (HEM) High School "I teach 7th grade math, 8th grade math and two sections of Biology 1 and two sections of Biology 2," Larson said.

Larson is also the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) teacher. This means she has taken over the STEM Fridays and set up field trips that celebrate the subject matter of STEM.

"This year I have either field trips or speakers for our STEM Fridays that happen once a month," Larson said. "So far we have been to the STEM Carnival at the University of Wyoming. We have been to the University of Wyoming's Makerspace where they have 3-D printers, etching tools, sewing and we went to the Wyoming State Museum in Cheyenne. We will be going back to the University of Wyoming to see their planetarium, a science kitchen and the art museum."

In spring, Larson wants to take the students to the Cheyenne Botanical Gardens.

"We are planning to go to the Denver Aquarium at the end of the year," Larson said. "That will be a big field trip, because it will last all day. They do guided tours for schools and they will also do a dissection on a sea creature."

For speakers, Larson said she will have guests such as Kara Bragg from University of Wyoming concerning outreach programs available. "They will bring in seven researchers who will give presentations," Larson said. "Last year they had presentations where they brought different animal brains and skulls. They showed how the brain gave out electric impulses. It is science, but it is fun for the students."

Larson said she works closely with the University of Wyoming. "They have great resources that a lot of people don't realize," Larson said. "They have so much stuff that is open and free to the public. The only reason I know so much about these resources is because I took some masters classes to get my math endorsement, so I spent a summer wandering around the University in between classes and I found these different things."

Larson is from Illinois and she went to college at the University of Wisconsin. She originally started out studying animal science. "My plans were to go to veterinary school, but when I got in, I looked at how much it was going to cost, and realized I couldn't do it," Larson said.

"I ended up working at Brush Creek Resort for a couple of summers. I spent my day riding horses in some of the most beautiful scenery." While at Brush Creek Resort, she was introduced to her husband (Niles). Larson left Brush Creek Resort and moved to Elk Mountain.

"I started substitute teaching," Larson said. "The science position became open and I put in for it. I got it and also got my masters in secondary education." She got her math endorsement for 6th to 8th grade.

"It wasn't easy teaching and also studying at the University," Larson said. "But once I did it, I had a little more free time," Larson said. "I decided to take the time to schedule all the STEM field trips, since Science is my thing." 

Larson getting students involved in the many trips that add to their education has pleased HEM principal Eli Hobbs. "Kaitlyn is doing a great job with the students to get them interested in the STEM activities," Hobbs said. "It makes me proud to see how much the kids are benefiting."