FMA Live! Forces in Motion, the award-winning, action-packed show created by Honeywell and NASA, brought science to life at three Central New York schools last week. The show uses hip-hop music and dance, larger-than-life demonstrations, and audience participation to engage middle school students to learn the basic principles of physics. Performances were held at LaFayette Jr./Sr. High School, Pine Grove Middle School in the East Syracuse Minoa School District, and Lincoln Middle School in the Syracuse City School District.
Named after Newton’s Second Law of Motion (force = mass x acceleration), the show connects science and engineering to everyday life and illustrates how studying Newtonian Physics can lead to interesting, competitive careers.
“FMA Live! was an amazing and entertaining live-action way to get students interested in science,” said Mrs. Carolyn Scott, a sixth-grade math and science teacher at Pine Grove Middle School. “The show will help spark student curiosity about STEM education. The performance, videos, and demonstrations all entertain, teach, and intrigue their audience.”
“FMA Live! is inspiring a new generation of scientists and engineers, and motivating them to pursue studies in science, technology, engineering and math,” said John McAuliffe, Honeywell Syracuse Program Director.
The popular show is in high demand, and has been performed before 320,000 students at 900 middle schools in all 48 contiguous U.S. states, as well as in Mexico and Canada.
To learn more about FMA Live! visit the new website, which includes National Science Standards-based teaching resources, downloadable streaming videos, music from the show, and a comprehensive educational guide with lesson plans. Whether combined with the live show or used separately, the site contains a lasting set of tools to support the Forces and Motion curriculum, a vital building block of physics and engineering education.
FMA Live! and the Honeywell Initiative for Science & Engineering program are part of Honeywell Hometown Solutions, the company’s corporate citizenship initiative, which focuses on five areas of vital importance: Science & Math Education, Family Safety & Security, Housing & Shelter, Habitat & Conservation, and Humanitarian Relief. Together with leading public and non-profit institutions, Honeywell has developed powerful programs to address these needs in the communities it serves. For more information, please visit http://citizenship.honeywell.com.