GREENFIELD — Greenfield Community Science Workshop once again partnered with Mary Chapa Literacy and Technology Academy to bring hands-on science activities to local students and their parents at the second annual Family STEAM Night.
Through a grant from Turnaround Arts, the elementary school focuses on integrating art through such content areas as science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics, collectively known as STEAM, and hosts a monthly night of family activities — called Family Art Night — in the school’s cafeteria. Last month the Science Workshop staff returned to introduce science to the families.
About 200 students and their families participated in the Family STEAM Night event Feb. 21, along with several Mary Chapa teachers who volunteered to help out from 5 to 7:30 p.m.
“The Workshop staff is extremely excited with the opportunity to work again with the parents and students of the community,” said Jose Sanchez, program coordinator for Greenfield Community Science Workshop. “Part of the fundamental philosophy of the Workshop is that families can have fun learning together, and that’s what happens at events like this. Even for parents that have little formal education, learning from basic science experiments and simple construction activities is easy and fun, and helps parents bond with their kids. Conversations that begin at the event can continue at home because all the projects being built will be sent home with families for free.”
Science Workshop staff prepared seven different projects that “challenged critical thinking along with fostering a love for STEAM activities, knowledge about art integration at Mary Chapa and quality family time,” Sanchez said.
Each activity demonstrated a variety of science concepts. Among the projects that could be made this year were magnetic ladders, torsion drums, bristle bots, tornado bottles, air cars, rubber-band helicopters and levitating spinners with the help of magnets.
Greenfield Community Science Workshop works closely with local schools throughout the year, supporting both teachers and students in the education process. The city-funded program has been in operation for more than six years and is located at 45 El Camino Real in downtown Greenfield.
The Workshop is open for walk-in students ages 8 and up after school Tuesday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.
