Family STEM Night a Success

Hazelwood Elementary School’s first annual Family STEM Night was held March 29, where students assisted their parents with science experiments and explained math strategies.

STEM Education is an infusion of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics through project-based learning to understand complex problems and to prepare students to be the next generation of innovators.

The Hazelwood STEM Night was a way for parents to connect with their children’s education. Parents and students from all grade levels stopped by interactive booths to learn about the practical applications of STEM.

All nine of Haywood County Schools’ elementary schools follow STEMscopes curriculum, which is aligned with the N.C. Essential Standards for Science. STEMscopes is based on hands-on, inquiry-based investigation that helps students become tomorrow’s STEM leaders and innovators. This approach allows students to experience science. As students dive into the investigations found in each scope, they develop their own contexts and meanings for the scientific concepts they are learning, retain more knowledge, and develop deeper understandings of the world around them.

“Almost everything we do in life has STEM applications, but not everyone realizes it,” Hazelwood Principal Wendy Rogers explained. “Our students enjoy the project-based component of STEM learning, and Hazelwood is committed to innovative teaching techniques.”

What makes STEM stand out from traditional science lessons, Rogers said, is a focus on problem solving and student-led projects. Projects are connected to lessons students are currently learning about.

At STEM Night for example, Fifth grade students have been learning about weather all year.  During STEM Night they shared their weather knowledge by showing other students how to make anemometers and measure the wind.  Third grade students used the concept of force and motion to build and test marble roller coasters.  Fourth grade students showed families how you can use everyday objects and games like Dominos to build math concepts.  But, STEM lessons are not just for the upper grades, so students in Kindergarten and second grade had a variety of materials available for specific engineering challenges. Because first grade students at Hazelwood work closely with the Master Gardeners to plan, prepare, and plant our school garden,  their STEM station was called “Watch Me Grow.”    Their station provided an opportunity to plant a flower and use a ruler to measure plant growth. Students were also excited about making slime and learning about chemistry and eating the trail mix they measured out for themselves after following a simple recipe.

STEM Education is one strategy that North Carolina is utilizing to increase high school graduation rates and encourage postsecondary education. The goal of the STEM system is for students to enter high-skill, high-wage, and high-demand careers.

The N.C. Department of Public Instruction states that STEM Education is a key economic driver in the state. It touts STEM Education as an economic imperative to transform education, build a world-class workforce, align with emerging industries, and ensure N.C. economic prosperity.  We, at Hazelwood Elementary School, also agree with this direction and focus for our students.  We will continue to integrate STEM during our school-day and for parent-involvement events all year long.

Planting seeds

First grade engineering