Chapel Hill Elementary School in Douglasville was filled with creative energy and excitement recently as students participated in engaging activities for Georgia STEM Day. The school's STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) teacher, Sally Reese, coordinated the day by helping teachers plan and gather materials.
"It was amazing to see our students so engrossed in the hands-on STEM activities," Reese said. "They were applying important concepts in such a fun and interactive way. STEAM Day allows them to experience how these subjects connect to the real world."
The day was a hit across all grade levels, Reese said. Kindergarteners built wind-powered mazes and raced marbles through their creations. First graders designed and tested paper airplanes to see which ones could fly the farthest. Second and third graders became bridge engineers, building structures from straws and tape and testing how much weight their bridges could bear.
Fourth graders worked on a skyscraper challenge, using everyday materials like straws, cups, and pipe cleaners to build the tallest freestanding tower possible that could also hold weight.
"The fourth graders' towers were so inventive and creative,'' remarked Principal K'Asha Davis. "They really impressed me with their problem-solving abilities."
Rounding out the day, fifth graders explored electrical circuits by building them with potatoes as part of their science curriculum. Throughout the school, students were immersed in STEM skills like critical thinking, collaboration, creativity and problem-solving.
"Events like STEM Day are what make learning so engaging for our students," Davis said. "They get to experience core concepts through interactive projects that stick with them long after the school day is done."