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.