Students at the brand new Sunset Ridge Intermediate School and View Ridge Middle School had the opportunity to showcase their amazing STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) projects for all the moms and dads to see on Tuesday, June 25th. For some, it was the first time they had the opportunity to tour the airy art studios and state-of-the-art STEM labs at the school.
In art instructor Alan Adams classroom, there was an explosion of color lining the walls from top to bottom. Students from 5th to 8th grade had the opportunity to use various art forms to create their one-of-a-kind artwork. The school was filled with so much art there were tables in the halls displaying ceramic pieces and display boards showing progressions of art from pencil sketches to the finished project.
Parents and students interacted in the STEM Fabrication Lab discussing the projects on display. Students got excited to show their parents what tools they got to use and how they worked. Students used 3D printers and various robotic parts to create some truly fantastic pieces of work. Some projects were used to create mechanical toys for children with cerebral palsy or those with braces or splints to stabilize an injury, allowing students to use real-life applications.
Throughout the evening, guests could hear musical performances coming from The Black Box Theater. Once attendees stepped inside the theater they were treated to an intimate theater setting with an up-close view of the performers.
Moving on into the Commons guests caught a glimpse of various science projects seventh graders worked on throughout the year. The focus for seventh-grade science was problem-solving for specific ecosystems. Students developed ideas ranging “from a trash collector for the Ridgefield Wildlife Refuge that will help prevent the spread of toxic chemicals to a water collector and purifier for the Amazon Rainforest.”
As a whole, parents and students were able to see how STEAM is giving them practical applications in science, technology, engineering, art, and math in the classroom will translate to real life and their future.
