NEW ROCHELLE, NY — Columbus Elementary’s recent STR2EAMing to LEARNing Convention was a huge success, with hundreds of students showcasing their STEM-based research and inquiry-based projects to family and friends.
Columbus Principal Michael Galland said all 41 classes were involved in the two-day convention, which focused on Science, Technology, Reading, Research, Engineering, Art and Math.
“The projects were varied,” Galland said. “They included constructing marble-flying roller coasters, investigating immigration history of west New Rochelle and the Lower East Side, fish, farms, the data behind the destruction of Native American populations and a study of Native American cultures, a data-driven study of countries on different continents, rural vs. urban communities and more. The creativity and ingenuity of our students were definitely something to see.”
Teachers Elizabeth Zahn and Dan Cocciardi, who coordinated the convention, felt the event allowed students to follow their passions, learn through different modalities and learn from each other.
“The students become ‘experts’ as they delve into deep topics and then find ways to communicate their findings/results/ information to the greater audience,” said Zahn.
“In preparation for the convention, the students… and I mean all students… were reading and writing about their topics. During the convention, the students were speaking and listening as they shared their learnings with families and friends. This year, we highlighted the use of data. You could find evidence of students using data to explain or support their work or thinking. The work is authentic and celebrates the process of learning for all students.”
Zahn partnered with outside groups to bring a science show, animal show and a cafeteria full of STEM projects for parents and kids to explore. These projects represent a collaboration with the Westchester Children’s Museum and Zahn arranges for teachers/guides from the museum to train parents to lead the STEM activities and guide participants toward discovery and creative solutions.
“Our trained parents run the activities in the cafeteria, which is a huge, proud piece of this,” Galland said.
Zahn added it’s important for parents to be active participants in their children’s learning, with 35 parents leading seven workshops to supplement the convention’s mission.
“Having the Parent Workshops has been one of our most exciting unintended consequences,” she said. “The parents come for an evening of science fun where they are engaged in the type of learning that we do here at Columbus: Solving problems, inventing things, finding alternatives, working with a team. During the evening, parents take on the role of facilitator for the different activities. I feel that we have helped bridge the divide between teachers and parents, which builds the reality of a community school.”
The convention is funded by The Charlotte K. Stadler Fund.
“Charlotte was a beloved math teacher at Columbus for decades,” said Galland. “She and her late husband supported annual conventions at Columbus, and many other enrichment opportunities for Columbus students. We were also honored that Charlotte’s three children – Daniel, Alex, and David – came to take part Thursday evening.”
That funding ensures a good time is had by all.
“For everyone, it doesn’t matter who you are, there is always something new to learn or discover,” added Zahn. “For students, it’s a reminder that hard work can be celebrated and learning can be fun.”