C.H. Campbell celebrates STEM Week

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Neighbors | Abby Slanker.As her fellow students looked on, a C.H. Campbell Elementary School third-grade student prepared to launch a football with a catapult to knock down a cardboard box wall, all the while learning about engineering, during the school’s annual STEM Week on Feb. 25.

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Neighbors | Abby Slanker.Two C.H. Campbell Elementary School third-grade students were literally hands-on with the dry ice experiment at the school’s annual STEM Week on Feb. 25.

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Neighbors | Abby Slanker.A C.H. Campbell Elementary School third-grade student tried her hand at the non-invasive surgery simulator during the school’s annual STEM Week on Feb. 25.

By ABBY SLANKER

neighbors@vindy.com

C.H. Campbell Elementary School had its third annual STEM Week Feb. 22-26, with each grade level given a day to learn about science, technology, engineering and math.

Each grade had its own designated STEM day with activities, which were grade level appropriate and corresponded with the grade level’s curriculum. Each class had one hour to themselves in the gym to explore each of the STEM activities. PTO parent volunteers helped and instructed the students at each station.

“We are very thankful for our parent volunteers. We could not do this without them. We are also thankful for Dave Wilkeson who helped us start our STEM Week program. He has been instrumental in our process,” said Patti Palotsee, CHC STEM Week chairperson.

Third-grade STEM day included such math activities as measuring instant snow and solving problems at the Minecraft Math station.

In the science department, students watched as dry ice and dish soap created large bubbles and at the Cloud in a Bottle station, students were shown how a little isopropyl alcohol mixed with air in a bottle would create a ‘cloud.’

At the engineering station, students constructed a wall out of building blocks and cardboard pieces. They were instructed to work together to build the strongest wall possible that would not be knocked down by various sized balls, which were then catapulted toward the wall. Students also took aim with the catapult at Angry Birds targets set up on a table.

This year, the technology station was the same for all students, with a focus on medical technology. Students were able to try their hand at a non-invasive laparoscopic surgery simulator.

“The students look forward to this week. They learn a lot while also having fun with all the hands-on experiments,” Palotsee said.