CLAYPOOL – Students, staff and community partners at Claypool Elementary School came together for the second annual STEAMFEST on Tuesday.
The event transformed the school into a hub of hands-on learning and real-world exploration across science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM), according to a news release from Warsaw Community Schools.
Throughout the day, students participated in STEAM challenges, immersive projects and guest speaker sessions that brought STEAM careers to life. Guest speakers represented a range of fields: Joel Poppenfoose, police technology; Jeremy Corson, beekeeping and ecosystems (“Bees-Bees-Bees”); Tracey Dingle, LEGO design and engineering; Brooke Friedberg, orthopedics and career exploration; Dan Cripe, architecture; Ryan Miller, engineering; and Matt Alexander, welding and precision machine technology.
Students also participated in interactive pollinator and planting activities led by Cindy Gackenheimer, Deb McClintock, Lu Christoffel, Beth Harris and Kay Pylant. These hands-on experiences helped students understand the vital role of pollinators in ecosystems and gave them an opportunity to get their hands dirty.
From engineering challenges and robotics to career exploration and environmental science, STEAMFEST was full of meaningful and memorable learning experiences, the release states. Classrooms became hands-on makerspaces.
“STEAMFEST is an incredible opportunity for our students to connect learning with real-world applications,” said STEM instructional coach Dan Graney.
Principal Kristin Sederberg said, “By engaging in hands-on STEM and STEAM activities and hearing from real-world professionals, we hope to spark curiosity and inspire the next generation of innovators.”