EDUCATION
Gray Elementary School held their Title 1 Science Night before spring break, showcasing science and S.T.E.A.M. activities for the students to immerse themselves in and hopefully find a love for S.T.E.A.M. in the future as they learn more.
Vicky Bivins, coordinator for the Title 1 Science Night at Gray Elementary School, said she enjoyed the event and the students seemed to enjoy it just as much. She said they learned a lot in a fun environment.
“This was our Title 1 Science Night here at Gray Elementary, so it was school wide. We like to have two events each year, and we wanted to focus on S.T.E.A.M., so Georgia College decided to bring S.T.E.A.M. stations for science,” she said. “The teachers planned one activity, so the students and parents could spend time with their teacher and do an activity geared around science and S.T.E.A.M.”
Bivins said every classroom chose a theme for a fundraising gift basket, and they asked the students to provide one item for the basket. She said the baskets were used for a silent auction to raise funds for the classrooms.
The coordinator said during the Science Night they had test prepping for the Georgia Milestones. She said they had a magic show at the end of the night, which she said was what most of the students were excited for.
“We did a lot of S.T.E.A.M. activities at the Title 1 Science Night, and that’s important for the students to engage in.
We chose what was appropriate for each grade level and what suits the standards. The parents had a chance to see what their child is learning here at Gray Elementary, plus this was fun with learning,” she said.
Addie Dillard, a fifthgrade student at Gray Elementary School, said her favorite thing about the Title 1 Science Night was the magic show, and it was very interesting. She said Gray Elementary School is great, because her teachers are nice. She said she wants to learn more about S.T.E.A.M.
“There were a ton of fun activities. We got to do stuff with electricity, look for fossils, look at rocks, make air cannons, and there was a fun magic show,” she said. “I was looking forward to Science Night, because one of my favorite subjects is science.”
Another fifthgrade student at Gray Elementary School, Payton Pounds, said she had a lot of fun at the Title 1 Science Night, and her favorite thing about Gray Elementary School is how fun learning is. She said doing events like the Science Night make learning a lot more interesting.
“This Science Night kind of showed us what college students learn about,” Pounds said. “This event was very cool, because you never know what you can learn from college students and what to expect when you’re older. It’s important to learn about science and see what the future holds.”
Bivins said fifth graders engaged in electromagnets, fourth graders made bottle rockets with straws, another group built a tower, engaged in activities where they sink or float Easter eggs, and much more. She said the students enjoy nights such as Science Night. She said she hopes one day some of the students have a love for science and choose a career in S.T.E.A.M.
“I like seeing the kids come out and enjoy nights like this at Gray Elementary. I like their expressions, their laughs and the interactions they have with their parents while their parents watch them learn,” she said. “I hope they take away memories where they enjoy learning, and hopefully this brings them back to the next event we plan.”
