Kindergarten through seventh-grade students participated in a variety of interactive, hands-on activities during the East Williston STEAM Fair. During the fair, which incorporated a safari theme, The Wheatley School students and staff districtwide facilitated more than 35 different activities based in science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics.
Participants built Pride Rock and bridges to traverse the safari terrain, soared over the safari by building airplanes; made bat houses and animals with doodle pens; learned about CAD modeling and 3D printers; coded robots and experienced virtual reality to visit national zoos and parks; explored the night sky by visiting the planetarium; and participated in an artificial intelligence playground. They also created camouflage masks, paper snakes, rainmakers and watercolor cave drawings; located and preserved animal skeletons; problem solved to save the safari animals by using money sense to purchase supplies, built boats and structures to contain the animals; explored dissections and more.
Through inquiry and hands-on experiences, the event fostered innovation and creativity and introduced students to different fields in science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics. The experience also allowed community members to connect with each other through the activities. More than 50 students from The Wheatley School volunteered through their clubs, including Robotics, EAC, ICU, National Honor Society and the Video Club, to facilitate the night’s activities for the younger students in the community.
—Submitted by the East Williston Union Free School District
