Schoharie Mohawk Initiative for Science and Technology at the Schoharie Library

SCHOHARIE — “There is hardly anything you can’t do with PVC and popsicle sticks.”

That is not a quote from 1985-1992 tv show MacGyver, but in fact something Walt Silva, who has been an engineer for 25 years, imparted during his April 15th wind turbine STEAM project at the Schoharie Library. Silva teaches programs at the Schoharie, Middleburgh, and Cobleskill libraries, and rotates programs so there is always something different to learn at each.

Students in grades four-eight used easy-to-come-by materials to build their own working wind turbines; a square cardboard base, Solo cup and popsicle sticks for the tower, foldable cardboard jewelry boxes to craft the nacelle, popsicle sticks and Dixie cups for blades, and a motor.

Each piece was held together by masking tape. When Silva asked the kids why they thought that was the case, they answered correctly and Silva added that his favorite type of tool to use is tape because, “you can take it off and make a mistake, try something different; you just undo it and do it again.”

Silva posed the question, “Why do wind turbines need big blades?” and asked the kids to think about a pinwheel. “Are their blades straight up and down or a shape?” This engaging style of workshop prompted lots of discussion, participation, critical thinking, hypothesizing, curiosity, intrigue, problem-solving, and allowed kids to work at their own pace, with help when needed, and without getting left behind at any step. 

Silva also incorporated many curriculum concepts into one activity while explaining the importance of not getting tape around the motor shaft or the blade will slow down due to friction, connectors and insulators, as well as magnetism when describing how the motor works.

When joking there would be a test at the end, attendees were thrilled to find out it wasn’t true during their Spring Break week!

The next Schoharie Library workshop in this series for kids grade levels four-eight is happening on Tuesday, May 20th from 4:30pm-6pm where participants will “build a pneumatic (air-operated) machine out of easy to find materials and be amazed what objects it can lift and lower.” You can follow the library’s Facebook page and check their website to stay up to date on upcoming events.

Silva also mentioned an Intro to Robotics Stem Camp for grades five-seven at the Blenheim-Gilboa Visitors Center this July, and for grades seven-nine at the end of August. The event is free and pre-registration is required. It can be found on the NY Power Authority website’s calendar of events and New York Power Authority is also on Facebook.