Students Had a Blast at First STEM Day
Pax III
Do you know how to inflate a balloon without blowing it up? Can you make your own lava lamp? Have you ever raced a car with a “motor” you built yourself?
More than 100 5th – 8th grader attendees of the 2014 STEM day said,”Yes!” to these questions and more.
Students who attended the STEM Day and Carnival at the Leonardtown campus of the College of Southern Maryland saw how science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) principals are integrated into everyday activities. And how they can be used in creative and fun ways.
Demonstrations were held throughout the day, ranging from the ‘no 
blow’ balloon where participants experimented with acids and bases to fill their balloon with gases, to building circuits and controlling and lighting a bulb. Students also built motors, harnessed kinetic and potential energy to race vehicles.
After spending the morning participating in guided demonstrations, students completed a self-guided afternoon learning how STEM concepts translate to carnival rides, games, competitions, and displays.
The day wasn’t just for the kids. In addition to hooking the kids with exciting experiments, activities and rides, the event offered help to parents in various workshops.
According to Johann Soto, “The event has been architect-ed to combine student and parent outreach for the purpose of introducing, inspiring and getting both groups committed to the pursuit of STEM fields.” 
Thanks to the effort of local volunteers working with the College of Southern Maryland Institute for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, parents received information on financing higher education and fostering good study habits.
Photos Courtesy of Elizabeth Wolter and Geordano Abreu
