The Dibrell Elementary School gym was packed with students and parents Tuesday night for the Dr. Seuss-themed STEM night.
STEM stands for the study of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Many schools have STEM nights as a fun way of encouraging learning. STEM instructor for Morrison, Eastside, Dibrell and Centertown Michelle Chisam says STEM is very important.
“It promotes critical thinking skills, curiosity, persistence and decision-making skills and develops skills they will need in the workforce later in life. In STEM class, students can learn skills and practice learning objectives in a fun setting. We also work on developing leadership skills, accepting failure without giving up, and cooperating with others to achieve an objective,” Chisam said.
With Read Across America week coming up, Dibrell decided to go with a Dr. Seuss theme. Tuesday night, there were eight different stations for the students to go to. The first station was “Horton Hears a Who” where they made a cup phone with a string for the kids to talk to each other.
The next station was “Bartholomew and the Oobleck.” At this station, students made Oobleck, a non-Newtonian fluid meaning it acts as a solid when force is applied, but also flows like a liquid. Another station was “One Fish, Two Fish,” where they used dry-erase markers to draw a fish on a plastic plate and when water is poured on it the fish floats.
At the “Hop on Pop” station, students used code to move the bee-bots around to words that rhymed. At the “Oh Can You Say Di-no-saur” stations students used vinegar to melt the baking soda egg to find a dinosaur.
At “The Lorax” station, students did a minute-to-win-it challenge where they built as many truffala trees as possible in a minute. At the “Dash Maze” station, students drove a dash robot through a maze. Motlow Robotics had its own station where students could experience a robot.
Chisam was pleased with the turnout Tuesday night. She is always looking for new and exciting lessons to teach the students of Warren County.
“It was a huge success. We had a great turnout, and all involved were excited and happy. Our BETA students were in charge of working the stations with the help of two students from the high school NHS and Interact clubs. This was my largest STEM night turnout,” said Chisam.
