The Polk County Early College Science Club recently put its talents to use to help a group of students at Polk County High School.

PCHS teachers Maria Freeman and Tina Muse had been saving money to provide sensory boards for their students in the school’s Exceptional Children’s Extend Group. Sensory boards contain manipulatives and various textures that stimulate a person’s senses and provide practice for motor skills.

The Polk County Early College Science Club offered to build the boards for the group. Since school began school in mid-August, club members have been working on the boards. Some of the Science Club members worked in pairs to create eight boards while others worked on the shelf used to hold them. Items on the boards vary from textures such as fabrics, plastic and rubber to manipulatives like calculators, belts and folders.

On September 21, the Exceptional Children’s Extend Group happily received their new sensory boards.

Sheila Rodriguez, president of the Science Club, said it was “a really good idea to do this service project” and “a creative moment for everybody.” Rodriguez also said she was “very proud of everybody’s exceptional work” and spending “extra time regardless of the class load.”

Two new members of the Science Club, Mason Lassiter and Joel Resendiz, said the project was “a good challenge on being creative” and it was “a fun group project.”