A Need for STEAM: Second Year for Akron STEAM Festival
Whether by boat or car, science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM) learning is taking Akron students beyond the classroom. For the second year, Akron Central Schools held STEAM Fest for students in fourth through sixth grade.
The challenges were coordinated by a committee of dedicated teachers, administrators and Western New York Regional Information Center CSLO Coordinator Val Rinow-Ess. Starting with planning and leading all the way up to the event on March 10-11, the committee collected recycled materials, borrowed a track from the Master Teachers Association, enlisted High School World of Technology class volunteers and set out to make the day great for over 100 students.
This year, students were asked to problem-solve and get creative in a Nerdy Derby, a STEAM Boat Challenge and at the Imagination Station: Blacklight Recycled Art.
Students rotated through stations to create a “boat” from recycled material that could hold the most weight. Then it was all aboard to Imagination Station.
“Students learned about the science of fluorescence and UV light. They made kinetic spinner and used math concepts to create a mandala design,” elementary art teacher Cheryl Wazny explained.
The finale was the Nerdy Derby, similar to a pinewood derby race, but students had to quickly work together to construct a vehicle out of recycled materials, axles and wheels.
“The task follows a natural trial-and-error process and they learn what works and doesn't work. The challenge is they only have a half-hour to do it,” high school technology teacher Jason Zuba said.
The winner of the fifth-grade Nerdy Derby kept her design simple with the use of a spork.
“We’re trying to get younger kids to get excited about technology. They get limited exposure before sixth grade and this is one of the ways we are able to incorporate technology at the younger levels,” Zuba added.
If you have questions about Akron’s STEAM curriculum or events, contact Val Rinow-Ess at vrinow-ess@e1b.org with any questions.