05/18/2026
Cathy Bertke is an Eighth Grade Science Teacher at East Central Middle School. She received a grant, sponsored by Valley Rural Utility Company, for her project entitled “Lure Me Into STEM”. She wrote, “Thank you to the Dearborn County Retired Teachers Foundation and Valley Rural Utility Company for making this unique learning experience possible for my 8th grade science students.”
The project challenged students to select a specific fish species and research its:
â—Ź Scientific & common names
â—Ź Physical descriptions & habitats
â—Ź Diets & life cycles
â—Ź Ecological roles & human/angling interactions
Students synthesized their findings and images into creative, colorful trifold brochures. Their excitement was immediate. Several students eagerly explained their initial species choices. As the project progressed, that enthusiasm grew. Students constantly shared newly discovered facts and photos. For example, one student fascinatedly explained how the Cookie Cutter shark inflicts perfectly round “cookie-cutter” bites on marine animals, large fish, and even submarines!
The second phase required students to select and build a specific lure to catch their chosen fish. This hands-on component allowed tactile learners to truly excel. Utilizing their grant-funded 3D printer, Cathy produced various lure styles for the classroom, including: 4-piece swim bait, Whopper Ploppers, Rattletraps, “Walk the Dog” topwaters, standard hard lures, and other specialized designs.
Students were fully engaged as they constructed the lures and problem-solved different hardware arrangements. Cathy watched peers naturally collaborate, troubleshoot, and explain mechanics to one another.
Cathy summarized their experience, “By merging deep ichthyology research with visual design, this project successfully captivated our 8th graders. The student-driven approach fostered genuine excitement, sparked creative discovery, and introduced them to unique marine life. Now, the ultimate test awaits: seeing if anyone catches a fish with their creation!”
