Students build an arch out of foam blocks.

By Lauren Valentino

On October 4, Botelle School was full of STEAM. Not the steam that rises from boiling water. This STEAM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics. Botelle’s Hall of Flags was transformed into the STEAM museum, and students from Botelle and Colebrook Consolidated School explored state-of-the-art, hands-on stations. STEAM education is a nationwide initiative that creates critical thinkers, increases science literacy and supports the next generation of innovators. It takes a synergistic approach to teaching the STEAM disciplines instead of isolating them as separate schools of thought.

The museum had something for children of all ages, from arch building, to robotics, to a plasma sphere. The museum director explained each of the stations so students understood how the STEAM principles were integrated. Then students were encouraged to explore the museum at their own pace, traveling to stations that appealed to their individual interests. Stations were facilitated by parent volunteers from both schools.

Some favorite stations were the Boom Box, where students used a jet of air to keep balls, scarves and other objects floating; a 3-D printer, hard at work using melted plastic to build a model of a T-Rex skull; a programmable robotic car; and a stationary bike on which students could generate enough kinetic energy to power a light.

Fifth grader Ben Crone found the science stations the most interesting. “My favorite part was the magnetic liquid,” he said, “because I had no idea anything like that existed.  I could make liquid sand move without touching it.”  Third-grader David DeCerbo focused more on the social aspect. “I liked to getting to know the Colebrook students a little better,” he said. “It was a great day!”

The museum was busy morning and afternoon. Colebrook students and teachers were bussed over from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and greeted by Botelle students from the same grade. Students had approximately 40 minutes to travel from station to station in the museum and afterward had time to socialize in classrooms. This unique experience was made possible by the collaborative efforts of each school’s cultural arts coordinator. Colebrook Consolidated School will host Botelle students and teachers in February, when they will enjoy a performance of “The Dragon King” by the Tanglewood Marionettes, a nationally touring marionette theater.

Editor’s note: Lauren Valentino is the principal of Botelle School in Norfolk.