CULLMAN, Ala. – STEM took over Cullman City Primary School this week, introducing young students to all kinds of real-world Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) lessons featuring everything from ice cream to balloon rockets.
Students learned to “command” volunteers around a grid to emulate computer coding, created their own rockets out of balloons, learned the science of how ice cream is made, drove a robot through a small course and more as they enjoyed a hands-on experience of how those science and math concepts translate into real life.
The school’s annual STEM Day event introduced students to real-life STEM experiences, with students excited to see these classroom concepts in action. More than 60 volunteers generously donated their time and resources to engage with more than 750 Cullman City Schools students, including Cullman City Primary School students, as well as second graders from East Elementary and West Elementary.
“Even our youngest learners benefit from our commitment to building a strong foundation in engineering, robotics, math, science and so much more through the CCPS STEM Program, which began last year,” Cullman City Primary School STEM Teacher Anna Anderson said.
Students engaged in several hands-on, interactive learning experiences that covered a wide range of topics including Aviation, VEX Robotics, Cyber Awareness, Ozobot Robots, Unplugged Coding, Seeds & Plant Life Cycle, Cloud Formation, Ice Cream Formation (Exothermic Reaction), Engineering Balloon Rockets, Oil & Water (Density), Osmosis, a Skittles Experiment (Gradients), How Polar Animals Stay Warm, How Sound Travels and much more.
“STEM Day’s success is due to our community, school system, and PTO support,” Anderson said. “Thanks to Jennifer Tidwell, the East/West STEM teacher, and Lindsay Brannon, the CCS Career and Technical Education coordinator, STEM Day now includes second graders from East and West Elementary, along with CCPS’ kindergarten and first-grade students.”
STEM Day at Cullman City Primary School would not have been possible without the invaluable support of community partners including Local 4-H, Drummond Coal, Cullman City Parks, Recreation & Sports Tourism and Cullman County Soil & Water Conservation.
“Cullman City Schools is fortunate to have a forward-thinking school board, led by Superintendent Kyle Kallhoff, and dedicated administrators like Mrs. Elizabeth Shaddix. They prioritize preparing our students for the 21st-century workforce,” Anderson said. “We are immensely grateful for the unwavering support we received from our school system and the Cullman City Primary School Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO), led by Ashley Eddleman. We’re also thankful for Premier Bank, which arranged lunch for our dedicated volunteers.”
