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Josh Dutton helps Kaiden Farrell build his newspaper structure.

Elise Mount and Dashland Kelley, above, create snow from baking soda.

AES event aims to create interest in math, science-related careers

Science.Technology.

Engineering.

Mathematics.

While they might sound like challenging academic subjects to some, the faculty and staff of Andalusia Elementary School want students to understand they can also be fun subjects.

With that in mind, the school hosted S.T.E.M. night Thursday, with hands-on lessons to pique the interest of AES students.

“This is the first year we have done this,” Amber Clark, third grade teacher said, “It’s gone wonderful so far. We couldn’t have done this without the community,”

The event featured stations, and students spent an allotted time at each station, making creations that would turn into lasting memories. There were 10 or 11 activities for three age groups, Pre-K through first grade; second and third grade; and fourth and fifth grade.

Among the numerous activities available were:

• Candy Science
• Tin foil boat challenge
• Balloon tower challenge
• Catapults and LEGOS
• Caring for the Forest
• What’s Inside a Computer
• Stack the Cups Challenge
• Spooky Science
• Tornado Machine
• Bridge Construction
• Newspaper Tower Challenge

“This event is truly amazing, it’s a good way to bring parents and children together,” Elise Mount, counselor of preschool through second grade, said, “to learn in a new way, and truly appreciate all that STEM has to offer.”

Among the most exciting events was an Egg Drop challenge in which students built protection for eggs that were then dropped from an extended bucket truck.

The U.S. Department of Commerce notes STEM fields careers are some of the best-paying and have the greatest potential for job growth in the early 21st century. The report also notes that STEM workers play a key role in the sustained growth and stability of the U.S. economy, and training in STEM fields generally results in higher wages, whether or not they work in a STEM field.

Nationally, there has been a push to engage students in STEM subjects at younger ages.

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