Gazing into a glowing plasma ball, a young student watches in fascination as purple lightning bolts dance toward his fingertips. This moment of discovery was one of many at Farmingdale High School on April 16, during the 7th Annual Elementary STEAM Night. Hundreds of community members gathered to explore science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics through hands-on play.
The high school commons and cafeteria featured over 50 interactive stations. Families moved from table to table, engaging in activities designed to spark curiosity and solve problems. Highlights included:
Rather than just watching, participants became scientists and engineers. They asked questions, conducted experiments, and analyzed data in real-time.
The collaboration of student leaders and district staff powered the event. Members of the Robotics, Science Research Club, and Wi-STEM worked alongside teacher volunteers from the district’s six schools. High school students served as mentors, showing younger children that passion for STEAM can lead to future opportunities.
This event required extensive planning from dedicated leaders. Kristen Cummings, the director of science, coordinated the evening with the National Science Honor Society members, advisors Sara Whitaker and Mike Boyd, and STEAM Night coordinators Tatiana Hakimian and Nick Marino.
Source: LI Press
