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Perkett Elementary fifth graders learn about golf, science

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  Published in Science and Technology on Thursday, September 18th 2025 at 16:05 GMT by KFYR TV
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Perkett Elementary Turns a Friday Afternoon into a Physics Lab—Golf‑Style

When most fifth‑graders think of golf, they picture a green fairway, a club, and a ball that disappears into the distance. At Perkett Elementary, however, a group of curious students were handed a radar gun, a set of stopwatches, and a lesson plan that turned the familiar sport into a real‑world physics experiment. On September 18, 2025, the school’s science teachers introduced their class to the Golf Science unit, an initiative that has already been highlighted on the local news site, KYFR TV, in a feature titled “Perkett Elementary Fifth‑Graders Learn About Golf Science.”

Turning the Course into a Classroom

The unit, which is part of the district’s broader STEM initiative (see the district’s STEM Curriculum Overview here: https://www.kfyrtv.com/stem/), blends math, physics, and sports in a way that makes abstract concepts feel tangible. The lesson began with a short video that explains how the angle of a clubface, the spin of the ball, and the wind’s direction all interact to produce the trajectory that a golfer desires. The video—linkable from the news article for parents who want to see it—features short clips of professional golfers explaining their swing mechanics, and is a key resource for the teachers (available here: https://www.kfyrtv.com/2025/09/18/golf-science-explained).

Following the video, the students broke into groups and used a launch monitor to measure the speed and launch angle of a golf ball when struck with a plastic club. “It’s like being a scientist,” said 10‑year‑old Maya Patel, one of the students. “We get to look at numbers and then see the ball actually move.” The data collected fed into a spreadsheet that allowed the kids to calculate the ball’s flight distance, compare their predictions to the actual result, and see how a change in launch angle or spin altered the outcome.

The activity was deliberately hands‑on. The teacher, Ms. Elena Martinez, emphasized the importance of data accuracy and scientific method. “We record, we analyze, we hypothesize again,” she said. “And that’s exactly what science is about.” The class also measured the effect of different surfaces—matt turf versus synthetic grass—on the ball’s roll after landing, giving them a deeper understanding of friction.

Linking Math and Physical Science

The Golf Science unit doesn’t stop at the physics of the ball. Students are also asked to apply algebra by calculating average speeds, creating graphs of launch angle versus distance, and even solving simple quadratic equations to predict the ideal club for a given yardage. “It’s not just about physics,” notes Ms. Martinez. “We’re using the same math you’ll see in your math class to make sense of the real world.”

This interdisciplinary approach has caught the eye of the district’s curriculum committee. In a related article posted on the same day (link: https://www.kfyrtv.com/2025/09/18/perkett-elementary-golf-science-lesson), the committee highlighted how this unit aligns with the state’s Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and supports students’ achievement in both math and science.

Beyond the Classroom: A Community Event

One of the most exciting aspects of the program is its community engagement. The article announced that Perkett Elementary will host a Golf Science Fair on October 15, where students will showcase their experiments and findings. The event will be open to parents, local elementary schools, and even a few professional golfers from the nearby county club, who will demonstrate how they use data to fine‑tune their swings.

In addition, the school is partnering with the local golf club to arrange a field trip next month. Students will get a chance to practice their measurements on a real driving range, and the club’s head pro will explain how data drives decision‑making in the sport. Parents can read more about the partnership in the club’s announcement (link: https://www.kfyrtv.com/2025/09/18/local-golf-club-partnership).

Why This Matters

The Golf Science unit is a shining example of how schools can make learning relevant and exciting. By connecting a popular pastime to core science concepts, the program demonstrates that physics isn’t confined to textbooks; it’s a part of everyday life. Moreover, it promotes critical thinking, teamwork, and data literacy—skills that are increasingly important in a world driven by technology and information.

As the article concludes, Perkett Elementary’s innovative approach is garnering praise from both the community and educational leaders. The district’s STEM office has already cited this unit as a model for other schools looking to incorporate sports into STEM curricula. Parents, educators, and students alike can find inspiration in this story of how a simple ball can become a vehicle for learning.

If you’d like to see the full story, including quotes from students, images of the classroom experiment, and a deeper dive into the curriculum, you can read the original article on KYFR TV: https://www.kfyrtv.com/2025/09/18/perkett-elementary-fifth-graders-learn-about-golf-science.