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About Siletz news letter. (Siletz, Oregon) 1989-1997 | View Entire Issue (July 1, 1994)
SMILE IN SILETZ SMILE (Science and Math Investigative [Learning Experience) is an enrichment t program fo r minority and disadvantaged \ students in grades 4-12 in eight rural Oregon [communities. SMILE'S goal is to provide group I activities fo r these students in math, science, land computers, preparation fo r the academics I o f college, and mentoring support to encourage r self-reliance. Oregon State University's [sponsorship, along with the generous gifts o f [participating sponsors, makes this program [ possible. Greetings from the fourth and fifth- [ grade SMILE students at Siletz. We have had a 1 very exciting year with hands-on science and > math activities. We used our skills of i communication, observation and prediction to i study flight. We constructed helicopters and ' gravity fighters from tag board and paper. Students took their aerodynamic models home so they could experiment more. Using plastic cups and round balloons, our club constructed artificial lung models to better visualize one of the body's vital organs. Everyone completed these with the assistance of "specialist" (students) who were adept at various phases of construction. This turned, out to be a real "breather" of an activity during the spring rainy weather. Both of these hand-on science activities were from the Hands-On Science Outreach Series furnished by the Bonneville Power Administration. These activities generated a lot of student participation and interest. We have been asked to participate in a pilot program aimed at restructuring the SMILE weekly club meeting. Mr. Mathews supplied Siuslaw National Forest wildflower coloring sheets as a meeting warm-up. After the warm-up, students engage in a science or math lab. The meeting closes with a short activity that encourages group togetherness. Talley Patton, of the Boise Cascade Corporation, took us to a nearby forest tract as part of our study of forestry. We're hoping she can do more extension activities with our club. On May 18th, John Minges of the Keep Oregon Green Association presented certificates to our SMILE students who created ; a video commercial on the prevention of forest fires as part of a statewide contest. John showed us the winning entry so we could compare it to our efforts and take notes for next year's contest. Middle Schoolers "Pass It On!" at Challenge Weekend "Jump and clap!" The message zig zagged across the Forum in the flashes of the red laser beam. Suddenly, across the room, the receiver jumped up and clapped her hands, and a cheer went up from the whole team. The message had gotten through. They had met the challenge! Similar scenes were played over and over during the recent Middle School Challenge Weekends. Every team from each SMILE school built a successful communication system. And it took teamwork! Each brought with them four wooden towers that they had built to meet given specifications. These towers were used to support reflectors that transmitted the laser message. Each team then divided into subgroups. Each subgroup had a specific task. One subgroup learned surveying. They located the exact position of each component of the laser communication system. This required knowing something about angles and measurement. Another subgroup had to devise a code that they could transmit by interrupting the laser beam. They practiced sending and receiving messages so they could do it quickly and accurately. The third subgroup was challenged to build reflectors to mount on the towers. The reflectors had to swivel horizontally and tilt vertically-and stay in position once they were set. When all the subgroups had done their work, it was time to put the system together. The tension built as the teams adjusted their reflectors to send the laser beam from tower to tower. Cheers rang out when the laser beam finally reached its target. Sending and receiving a message over the system was the icing on the cake! Success is sweet! , Students tell SM ILE .... why they "SMITE camp was great. The best part was campfire." ...Serena Braziel, Siletz Elementary "I really have enjoyed SMILE this year and camp was really worth waiting for." ...Heather Fultz, Siletz Elementary ( excerpts taken from Oregon State University SMILE Update) War Canoe Whale Canoe By Scott Rasmussen joined "I like math and science." ...Brandon Case, Siletz Elementary "1 really love science. Math is my favorite subject. The games are great. I get A's in math. "...Adam Glass, Siletz Elementary "I think it would help me in science a lot and 1 was in it last year. I loved it. It will keep me busy after school and I love to learn." ...Angela Husberg, Siletz Elementary "I would like to learn biology." ...Helen Pihlstrom, Siletz Elementary "It (SMILE) teaches m e." ...Terrel Williams, Siletz Elementary Elementary Outdoor Science ; Adventure Memories Students Say What They Liked B est.... "I liked the insects field study the best. I liked it more than others because we got to catch live insects and look at them and name their body parts. In the ant there is a head, a pair o f antennas, two compound eyes, a thorax and an abdomen. I liked the field studies because we got to hike, play games, learn, talk, ask questions, and write in our notebooks. I hope I go to SMILE camp next year because it is fu n .". ..Helen Pihlstrom, Siletz Elementaiy ♦ I i I 1 9 ♦ Long, forgotten with our peoples way, a memory buried in the river banks of today., . Our brave warriors did the battles of land and canoe, skilled hunters of creatures at hand, the great fish too. Weapons of wood, tied by skin, we of flesh and blood battled colosal, risked all, that we might win. Unbeaten, by the whites, sometimes by whale, the emense one, his mighty tail. Gamble we did, risk be great, our lives at stake. Of us many the high seas did take. Respect we did, worshipped the great one, largest that lives. He gave us honor and glory till white ones had come, corrupted they our children with the game of paper and rum. We few who were left on the run, buried our story, saw our name lost in mud. Proud were our people, pitied by none, we have lost most everything, to those who have won. All who are left, wait that the time came, the tribe of the grandfather will rise again, will rise again, we will rise again. For the spirit of hope
