Kids get hands-on science experience

Close to 175 students and parents at Sisters Elementary School enjoyed the first ever S.T.E.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) Night last Friday, February 10.

The event was hosted by the Sisters Parent-Teacher Community (SPTC) with significant collaboration from community organizations. Over a dozen different experiments and activities were housed throughout the elementary school for families to enjoy.

The Sisters Science Club developed and displayed several hands-on experiments for students to learn about pH, chemical reactions, worm composting, electric circuits and more.

"I was most impressed by the parent participation in and enjoyment of the event," said Cal Allen, of the Sisters Science Club.

"Clearly the students were excited and ready to try every experiment.

However, parents often seem reticent to participate.

Not at this event - even though it was not easy for adults to kneel on the floor and participate with their children in blowing ping pong balls out of a stack of blocks or blowing through straws between pop bottles to see what would happen to the bottles.

(The bottles moved close together, contrary to most opinions that the blown air would move them further apart.) Parents were also interested in knowing more about the scientific 'why' of the experiment as much as enjoying their children's excitement."

One of the favorite exhibits of the night was the great horned owl brought by Jim Anderson, a local naturalist.

"The owl was so cool!" said one wide-eyed kindergarten student. "I've never been able to see an owl that close before!"

The Sisters High School Astronomy Club showcased their telescopes and discussed the night sky to wondering youngsters and Sisters Middle School teacher Susie Werts and her class brought a creative game for families to enjoy about the migratory pattern of monarch butterflies.

SPTC also had opportunities for science art. Students learned about reactions within watercolor painting and all about bubbles while creating bubble art prints. Local teacher and volunteer Shawn Steele also created several math games for students to learn new techniques with numbers.

Throughout the evening students had a chance to try different experiments and learn new and exciting ways to ignite their interest in the sciences. Many students learned more about how to participate in the upcoming science fair and even signed up to participate in the SciArt contest as well as make a mousetrap car to showcase at the event next month.

Jodi Winnwalker, a volunteer for the Sisters Science Club, hosted the worm-composting station - and loved it.

"It was a delightful wiggly, squiggly evening with precious children, parents, grandparents and worms," she said. "One of my favorite quotes from an eight-year-old at the event, 'What do worms eat? I only like one green vegetable, but I can't remember what it's called.'"

Overall STEM Night proved to be an example of community collaboration and fun.

Families can look forward to attending the next Family Night, Reading & Literacy Night, hosted by the SPTC on Friday, April 21.