Experimenting With Microgravity
Awarded $1000
My name is Sara Burrell, and I am the gifted and advanced content teacher and program coordinator at PCES. I am excited to share that many of our students will be participating in an incredible hands-on science experience next year, made possible through a generous grant from the Putnam Education Foundation.
Through this opportunity, students will take on the role of real scientists as they design their own experiments to explore how different systems—such as plants, liquids, and microorganisms—might behave in a microgravity environment. Working in teams, they will ask meaningful questions, develop hypotheses, design experiments within real-world constraints, and present their findings.
This project goes beyond traditional science instruction by immersing students in authentic scientific inquiry. It encourages collaboration, critical thinking, and problem-solving while helping students build confidence in their ability to explore complex ideas.
We are incredibly grateful to the Putnam Education Foundation for making this innovative learning experience possible and for supporting opportunities that inspire curiosity, creativity, and a love of STEM in our students.
Hear Ms. Burrell describe what excites her about this project: