Hundreds Of Students Engage In Science Learning At 4-H National Youth Science Day

By Kritika Kulshrestha

IMG_1415More than 300 New York City youth joined hundreds of thousands of youth across the world in leading the eighth annual 4-H National Youth Science Day – or 4-H NYSD – experiment at P.S. 21 in Brooklyn on Nov. 18.

This year’s experiment, titled “Motion Commotion,” combined a speeding car collision and a distracted driving demonstration in a simulated activity that investigated the physical and human factors of motion.

IMG_1424The two-part “Motion Commotion” experiment enabled students to use everyday materials – including a toy car, modeling clay, ruler, calculator and cell phone – to explore physics in the real world.

IMG_1412In the first phase, youth constructed a simulated runway to analyze the speed, momentum and kinetic energy of a car in motion, and explored the science behind the car’s collisions.

IMG_1377In the second phase, they led an experiment that used the same physics principles to demonstrate the consequences of distracted driving.

The day kicked off with the 4-H pledge being recited by CUCE-NYC Associate and 4-H Youth Development coordinator Lucinda Randolph-Benjamin.

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Extension Support Specialist and ACT Center of Excellence trainer Michele Luc and CUCE-NYC IT Support Specialist Joeffrey Garcia helped students understand Newton’s laws of motion and assisted them with the activities scheduled for the day.

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4-H NYSD is the world’s largest, youth-led science experiment. An interactive learning experience that gets youth excited about science, technology, engineering and mathematics – or STEM, it spotlights the many ways New York City youth are engaging in 4-H Science programs year-round.

Learn more about 4-H NYSD here.