By Kaitlyn Resline

High school science interns host elementary students for a day of science-related activities.

In the Old Gym, sounds of excitement fill the air. A wide array of kids fills the room, from high school volunteers and high school media students to teachers and second grade students. It is an event unlike anything else. 

On March 11, 2020, second graders from Locust Grove Elementary School came to the Red Lion Area Senior High School to participate in the STEAM Ahead event. The purpose is to learn about the letters of STEAM as well as the four Cs. Stations around the room range from building a bride, coding a robot, completing an electric circuit, launching a ball, and many others. 

STEAM stands for science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics. The four Cs are communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity. 

“I think what the skills really are are the four Cs and I think the means to teaching those skills are the STEAM letters,” said science teacher and event facilitator, Mrs. Laura Delawder. “They can learn about science while communicating or collaborating… it’s just that connection, that integration between topics that really enables them to learn those four Cs.”

This year there were five STEAM events, to include all five elementary schools. It was put together by Mrs. Delawder and five interns: senior Lily Hare, and juniors Eliza Fink, Isaiah Morales, Laela Thibault, and Mackenzie Wagaman. Several high school student volunteers also ran stations to make the day possible. 

“With STEAM obviously we have our individual categories, but what it really entails is to kind of get these kids thinking, get them prepared for the future,” said intern Isaiah Morales. “We want them to be able to encounter different challenges, encounter different problems, but also find solutions to those problems.” 

The event also helped high-schoolers to talk to second graders. Morales said he connected with the second graders because he was amazed by how much they already knew. 

“My favorite part was the technology. We coded robots and stuff,” said a Locust Grove second grader, Claire. “I learned the life cycle of a sea turtle and how to talk with others to make sure everything works out.”

“My favorite station was the technology on because we got to see how technology works,” said another second grader, Laken. “I’ve learned that if you work together, it’s better.” 

Media students also got involved during the day. It was an opportunity to practice interview and camera skills. 

“It was really cool to see all of the kids having fun while learning! Mrs. Deladwer did such a great job planning the whole event,” said media student Margaux Rentzel. “I loved covering the event because it gave me great experience with interviewing people on the spot.”

The day met Mrs. Delawder’s expectations and was a success. In the future, she hopes the event will expand to include K-12 and become integrated into the daily school day. 

“It’s all about the kids,” said Mrs. Delawder. “Between high-schoolers, between second graders, between media students, between our t-shirt designer, it’s taken our village to make this happen and seeing it come to fruition has just been awesome.”