Flower Hill STEM Night is Fun

Flower Hill Primary School developed a family STEM night so students could have fun while engaged in a variety of learning experiences spread across science, technology, engineering and math topics.

Flower Hill students love a good challenge and they got several of them over the course of the evening. “We had over 75 families in attendance,” Principal Cindy Siegel said. “The families were engaged in computer science, technology, engineering and mathematics.”

Math teacher Christine Lofaro organized the entire event with help from many Flower Hill teachers. They created activity stations that focused on coding, a science penny experiment, creating marshmallow 3-D shapes and an escape room designed for students to complete different problem solving challenges that would decode the clues to escape.

“This experience is just one of many positive experiences at Flower Hill that promotes family collaboration and engagement,” Ms. Siegel said.

STEM study has value for students of all ages. The National Inventors Hall of Fame says that “science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education puts an emphasis on preparing future generations to be successful in their careers.”

The Flower Hill youngsters enjoyed the many challenges that confronted them at STEM Family Night.

“The skills gained from STEM education extend beyond those needed to be successful in STEM fields, preparing children with varied interests who move into any industry to have valuable skill sets that allow them to be successful,” states the National Inventors Hall of Fame website. “STEM-based education teaches children more than science and mathematics concepts. The focus on hands-on learning with real-world applications helps develop a variety of skill sets, including creativity and 21st-century skills.”

Skills gained through STEM education include problem solving, critical thinking, creativity, curiosity, decision making, leadership, entrepreneurship, acceptance of failure and more. “Regardless of the future career path considered by these children, these skill sets go a long way to preparing them to be innovative,” the National Inventors Hall of Fame website states.