GREENFIELD — As a mother of six children, Samantha Neuenschwander knows that kids aren’t always big on the details.
That’s part of the reason why she enjoyed attending a recent STEM night at Greenfield Intermediate School, where parents and students took part in a number of activities to get a first-hand glimpse at how students are learning about STEM — Science, Technology, Engineering and Math.
“I think it’s amazing the school is doing this,” said Neuenschwander, whose daughter Mina, 11, is a sixth grader at the school.
“So often you ask your kids about their day and they mostly talk about recess, so it’s nice to come here and see first-hand what they’re learning,” said the mom.
From 5:30-7 p.m. Thursday, students and parents were handed a list of activities held in various classrooms throughout the school.
All activities were related to something students learn related to STEM, also known as STEAM, which incorporates art-related learning into the mix.
Music teacher Leah Harris spent the open house teaching students and parents how to keep the beat by drumming with sticks on the bottom of bright orange five-gallon buckets.
“This (STEM) event is all about ways to stimulate the brain, and music is one way to do that,” said Harris in between drumming sessions that reverberated down the hallway.
In another classroom, science teachers Sarah Rogers and Ciara Judy were teaching students and parents how to apply engineering principles to build towers with miniature marshmallows and uncooked spaghetti noodles.
Fifth-grader Chandler Williams competed with his parents, Wayne and Amanda Williams, to see who could build the highest tower.
Before that, they took turns shooting hoops in the school gymnasium — shooting one shot for each math question answered.
“I think it’s great the school gets them thinking about STEM lessons early on,” said his dad, who said kids might be surprised how much they utilize science, technology, engineering and math in their future careers.
Principal Bronson Curtis said that was exactly the purpose behind the annual STEM open house, which the middle school hosts each spring.
“It’s a great way to show parents first-hand what kinds of things students are working on,” he said as a steady stream of families walked the halls Thursday night.
Some groups made a night of it, visiting the majority of activities hosted in various areas throughout the school.
Many stopped by the school cafeteria to enjoy refreshments and pick up free STEM-related giveaways like fidget spinners and flash cards. The school also gave away free bike helmets, nylon backpacks and bicycle safety information.
Students also got the chance to control robots thanks to Greenfield Central Junior High School’s robotics team, which had its competition robots set up in the school’s STEM learning room.
