Early Engineers

Middle School’s 6th and 7th grade students participated in myriad activities for ST2EM Day, led by Elementary School STEM Coordinator Danielle Orville. Throughout the day, students had the opportunity to interactively explore various aspects of science, technology, engineering, and math.

Since ST2EM Day corresponded with Lag B’Omer, students reflected on the connection between Lag B’Omer and ST2EM education during a speech by faculty member Rabbi Moshe Zidele. One of the related projects, wood art, taught students about the chemical reaction that allows wood to be burned without a flame. Students also tried their hand at bow and arrow making.

Participants combined engineering, electricity, and art to create unique circuit designs with conductive dough to make a “squishy circuit”. They also put their engineering skills to the test by building towers made with toothpicks and gumdrops. The Science Olympics provided a range of exciting scientific challenges that required individual and group participation. Students explored cause and effect with Rube Goldberg machines and used everyday objects to build complex creations. The Bath Bomb activity introduced