Breanna carefully folded a piece of paper, trying to make the perfect paper airplane. Once she was done, she went to test how far it would fly. She threw the paper airplane and as soon as she let go, it hit the ground.

Not all paper airplanes are able to fly well, but students have learned that it is important to keep trying, even if something doesn’t work out the first time. This eighth-grade experience took place in a S.T.E.M. class this winter, and is just one example of something students wouldn’t typically experience in a regular classes.

Cannon Falls Middle School is one of the few schools in Minnesota that offer quarter classes, which are not offered in Cannon Falls High School or Elementary School. Quarter classes are taught to help students determine their interests and identify what they would like to learn more about in the future.

Quarter classes are taught to give middle schoolers the opportunity to learn new skills or information that they wouldn’t learn in their typical classes. Students do many hands-on group activities and projects in quarter classes. Some of the more hands-on quarter classes are art and S.T.E.M., as well as tech, literature, and life skills. These classes give students the opportunity to try, experience, create, and learn new things, which helps create a well rounded education with plenty of variety. The main purpose of these classes is to help students determine what path they want to take throughout high school, and into their adulthood.

A few middle school students shared their opinions on quarter classes. Bella, a seventh grader, responded, “I really like the options and opportunities they [classes] give us and quarter classes are fun, more fun than regular classes.” Ashyln, a seventh grade student, shared, “I like meeting and seeing new teachers. I think quarter classes are good ideas to make learning new things fun.” The second question asked if students think quarter classes are a good way to learn new things. Amy, a seventh grader, stated, “I think quarter classes are a great way to learn new things, since they strays away from common things you might learn in school, or finds ways to incorporate them into fun activities.” Hades, a seventh grade student said, “I think it is a good way to learn skills that we will use in real life.” Many students enjoy quarter classes and think they are a great opportunity to learn lots of new information.