PHOTOS: STEAM Expo Brings Students of All Ages to St. Margaret’s for a Fun Day of Learning

St. Margaret’s was transformed into a STEAM utopia on Saturday, as students of all ages came to campus to take part in the St. Margaret’s STEAM Expo, a celebration of all things science, technology, engineering, art and math.

 

The day-long event featured a STEAM playground in the morning, geared toward younger STEAM enthusiasts. The afternoon was an opportunity for Middle School and Upper School-aged students to learn more about STEAM fields, network with STEAM leaders, engage in STEAM workshops and more.

 

“It was a great day at St. Margaret’s,” said Director of Educational Technology and Library Angela Mackenzie, who organized the event along with Lower School science teacher David Beshk. “The STEAM Expo was reimagined as a full day of fun activities, engaging learning and a celebration of all things STEAM, and students of all ages had a great time. We are so thankful for those who helped make the day possible, including our guest speakers and presenters, student volunteers from the Upper School STEAM Club, and the many professional community members who lent their expertise to make the STEAM Expo a day of learning and fun.”

Tech industry leader Kristen Miazga was the keynote speaker for the afternoon session, designed for students grades 6-12. She is a senior partner business lead at Google, who works on the cutting edge of the tech industry as it undergoes rapid innovative changes such as a wider adoption of artificial intelligence as a tool in STEAM industries.  

 

Ms. Miazga was followed by presentations from students at the University of California, Irvine, who shared their “Grad Slam” research presentations in fields like medicine and technology.  

 

Afterward, Middle School students could take part in workshops ranging from designing a pulley system to learning the basics of computer programming to dissecting an animal heart to creating a flower arrangement with The Ecology Center.

 

Upper School students, meanwhile, could take part in panel sessions that discussed various STEAM-related themes like entrepreneurship, aerospace and robotics, medicine, and being a woman in STEAM fields.

 

Preceding the afternoon activities was a morning STEAM playground designed for students in Early Childhood School and Lower School. The event stretched from Chalmers Field into the Lower School STEAM classrooms, and students and families could move around at their own pace. There was an always-popular reptile exhibit for students to learn more and touch scaly animals like skinks, bullfrogs and snakes. There was plenty of activities run by the Upper School STEAM club, where students could create and experience STEAM-related concepts like physics, astronomy and math. Students could also create art, with Lower School art teacher Mary Mayer overseeing a pixel art display and encouraging attendees to contribute.

 

In addition, student projects were displayed in the Lower School STEAM classrooms, with attendees having the options of watching videos of students explaining the project and what they learned.  

 

“Lower School students worked hard on a number of different STEAM projects this year, and this event was a chance to showcase the great work they did while explaining what they learned during those units,” Mr. Beshk said.

 

To watch the Lower School student videos, as well additional STEAM resource videos, click on this link.