Fifth-grade students from East Hartford’s elementary schools have been learning a great deal about science , math , technology and engineering through a unique program .

The federally funded , state-run STARBASE program is sponsored by the Department of Defense . There are 54 programs in the U . S . Since the programs began in 1993 , more than 400 , 000 students have taken part .

Connecticut has two star- “ bases , ” one in Waterbury , and one near Brainard Airport in Hartford . Director of STARBASE Connecticut , Melissa Vanek said the program mainly targets inner-city children and places where there is a lack of resources for hands-on science learning .

When the program started , according to Vanek , Hartford schools were the client , but a new superintendent there backed away from programs that involved learning outside the classroom , so the program was offered to East Hartford .

The instructors , who bear call-signs such as “ Red , ” “ Ladybug , ” or “ Gemini , ” have a background in education , but are not necessarily certified teachers . Each class spends four to five 4-hour sessions at the classroom , and a variety of activities , instruction , and interaction fill the time .

Last Monday , O’Connell students in Mrs . Deb Journalist’s class completed their fourth and final session .

For one activity , teams of students were asked to fasten an egg to a seat , which was then attached to a small wooden space shuttle .

The shuttles were then slid down a wire attached to the ceiling and diagonally to the Earth ( actually a bowling ball ) near the floor .

The object was to protect the egg from cracking from the impact with an “ inertia belt” created from a set of materials including a plastic bandage , pipe cleaners , rubber bands , and a small piece of styrofoam .

Each team member had a specific role , such as time-keeper or instruction-reader . To force the teamwork issue , each student could only use one hand – the one they don’t usually write with .

The instruction sheets had to be read carefully , or a crucial nut-and-bolt , which was not provided , but needed to be asked for by each team , would be missing .

The project was fun for the students , particularly when instructor Gemini assessed the post-crash pilots , and announced that they were “ egg salad , ” or had “ egg-straneous” injuries .

After the project , Newton’s laws were explained again , reinforcing the lesson .

Journalist said she was pleasantly surprised at how well the teams performed . “ They worked amazingly in the groups , ” said Journalist . “ I was pleased with how successful they were today . ” She also said she noticed an improvement in the students’ moods .

“ I was watching some of them , ” said Journalist . “ They shocked themselves , because they were able to answer the questions . They were really making connections . ”

In other classroom sessions , students design a shuttle on computer drafting software that is similar to the type used by professionals .

“ They have the opportunity to use something that is used in the real world , ” said Vanek .

The teachers are asked to fill out evaluations after the course is completed . That information is compiled in a book that is sent to the Board of Education and the DOD . A copy is kept on file at the school .

Vanek said the curriculum is created in conjunction with the schools , and in the fall , the program will take steps to gear the learning more toward the state standards . She also said that some teachers learn new ways of doing things , and apply them to their classrooms .

For more information , visit www . starbasedod . com .