MAHOMET, Ill. (WAND) - Jennifer Smith, a sixth and seventh grade science teacher at Mahomet-Seymour Jr. High School, is one of 12 teachers nationwide selected for a very special program. Sometime this year, Smith will take part in a parabolic flight, where she will experience microgravity.Â
Her students are working on projects that she can test while on the flight.Â
"My sixth graders are studying the water contact angle of different types of plant leaves," Smith said. "Leaves are hydrophobic or hydrophilic, and so today they're working on making a holder for that ... they're going to be measuring how water moves and changes in zero gravity."Â
Students practiced making boxes that would hold the plants while on the flight. They had to follow specific rules to ensure the boxes worked as intended.Â
"I'm working on the base for our leaves, including what we're going to put the leaves on to support them because we can't just put the leaves on the ground because the measurements will be wrong," said John Bailey, a sixth grader in Smith's class. "I'm trying to figure out how we can make it so that we have four sides for the leaves accessible."Â Â
Smith said the students are using all elements of STEM learning to design their experiments. This includes engineering certain elements, using math to calculate dimensions and working with a 3D printer to create the elements.Â
When the experiments are complete, Smith will connect with 11 other teachers to prepare for the flight. While on the parabolic flight, the teachers will take turns testing the experiments made by their students.Â
"It's a really amazing opportunity for the students," Smith said. "It gives them a chance to see science happens outside of our classroom, out in the world around us."Â
More STEM Minute Coverage:
STEM Minute: Students learn what it takes to be a radiologist
STEM Minute | Macon County Conservation District shares StarLab
STEM Minute | HSHS healthcare bootcamp for high schoolers
Copyright 2026. WAND TV. All rights reserved.
