First-grader Raegan Keys was focused on solving the magnetic math rings puzzle. Eager to explore the world of science, she came to Altara Elementary’s STEAM Night with excitement.

“I want to be a scientist and work with animals,” Raegan shared with a smile. 

Her father, Gideon, who was busy helping his other two children, also appreciated the variety of hands-on learning stations. 

“I'm a programmer, so it’s important they start learning these skills early,” he said.

Nearby, Sarah Mendenhall arrived with her first grader, 4 year old and 2 year old.

“I thought this would be some good quality family time with engaging activities,” she said. “My first grader is in the Spanish immersion; we love this school. He especially loves science so we explore and do many science activities at home.”

Principal Julie Fielding emphasized the event aimed to both give students valuable STEAM skills and offer families an opportunity to bond over learning.

“We’ve had a great response to our STEAM programs, both before and after school,” Fielding said. “This event gives families a chance to explore, learn and have fun together. People in the workforce say that we need employees who possess strong presentation and writing skills, resilience when things don’t go as planned, curiosity and the ability to collaborate. These are some of the very skills students are practicing here. Whether their tower falls or the marbles don’t cooperate, we want them to keep trying, work together and problem solve instead of giving up.”

Art was intentionally included in the event as well.

“Our art teacher and our drama teacher are working on a special project with puppets and backdrops. They’re collaborating on a film where students create the scenes,” Fielding said.

Teachers Nicole Lopez, Shauna Mayer and Stacey Sierer hoped to blend art with science in meaningful ways.

“We want students to understand science isn’t just about paper and pencils. It’s about using your hands and being creative,” Lopez said. “By making animal puppets and learning about their habitats, students can express their knowledge in a fun, creative way. It’s a hands-on way of reinforcing what they’re learning in class. During our rotations, students are making animals out of clay, creating backdrops and developing storyboards to put together a stop-motion film.”

These projects connected with the 

curriculum, Lopez added. For example, fourth graders tied their work to space studies, while fifth graders focused on ecosystems.

The event saw around 450 attendees, with students engaging in a variety of activities such as Coding Critters, solving magnet challenges, composing music on xylophones and more.

Travis Veazie sat on the gym floor alongside his niece, Chloe Elsberry, building a tower out of K’Nex.

“What do you think we need to do to make this sturdier, Chloe?” he asked the
kindergartner.

“This helps kids learn how to build things and sparks early interest in engineering while learning problem-solving,” he said. “It’s a fun challenge, and we’re having a great time working on it together.” λ