Oakside Scholars Charter Academy recently played host to a free community event that exposed students to STEAM curriculum in an exciting, hands-on approach. Nearly 20 families came out for the event that featured science, technology, engineering, arts, and math experiments and exercises.
Scholars participated in a variety of science- and art-based activities, including creating ice cream in a bag, conducting a sound waves experiment, and building a craft stick bridge.
“The biggest advantage to STEAM-related curriculum is the opportunity to put learning into action,” said Amy Tansel, principal at Oakside Scholars. “STEAM provides the platform for hands-on, student-centered activities that make learning engaging.”
Students and their families also created bedroom planetariums, built bottle rockets, explored virtual field trips, and let their creativity shine with pendulum painting.
Two of the most popular attractions of the evening featured students and their families making constellation night lights using toilet paper rolls and watching art come to life at the pendulum painting station.
“Students had a blast learning about airflow and movement with a 30-foot parachute, and racing Sphero robots down a handmade course,” said Kristy Redman, physical education teacher at Oakside Scholars. “They could also experience virtual field trips. It was a fun night for all.”
Research shows that exposing students to STEAM programs early on leads to tech-based careers in the future.
Keep up the great work, Oakside! Watch the pendulum art in action, here.