On Thursday, January 12th, the students of Hendersonville Elementary School were reaching for the stars at their “SPACEtacular” STEAM Night.
Each grade level had their own activities for students while including one of the elements of STEAM, which incorporates Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics branches of study.
The entire school was covered in wall-to-wall space-themed activities and lessons. As visitors walked throughout the building, they could have fun creating craters in the sand, making delicious astronaut ice cream, or see the beautiful space-themed student projects – all while having fun learning.
First Grade Teacher Cayley Icenhower, helped those who came in her room build gliders and see how far they could go. During the school day, her class experimented with the gliders and collected data like true scientists.
“We were measuring how many tiles they went (across the floor). Then we made a pictograph and we came and plotted it,” she said.
Even “Team 1225,” the robotics team of Henderson County Public Schools, came out and showcased their robots, one being a floor sweeper created by a Hendersonville High School graduate as his senior project two years ago.
Kerry Stewart, principal of Hendersonville Elementary School, offered insight into why her school has had two STEAM nights each year for the past three years. Not only have the students test scores increased, she said, but parent and student involvement in the school have as well.
“I just love to see the family and the community engaged in what the kids are learning,” she said.
(Written by Alex Ramirez, Early College, Public Information Office Intern, HCPS.)