A FIRST! Makerspace Hosts Middle School STEAM Camp
Students building thier own stomp rockets at the first ever Middle School STEAM Camp.
This summer, our Makerspace held its first middle school STEAM camp, an exciting and educational experience for 20 students in grades 6-8. The camp ran for half a day for three days, offering a variety of hands-on activities in the fields of arts, engineering, and coding.
Throughout the camp, students participated in rotations that allowed them to explore different aspects of STEAM. One of the highlights of the camp was the coding program, "30 Days Lost in Space." This engaging program placed students in a space adventure scenario where they were stranded on a planet and needed to get their spacecraft up and running to return home. Guided by videos featuring Dr. Greg Lyzenga, a NASA engineer, students learned basic electronic concepts and programming skills to solve problems and control their spacecraft. The students completed three days of coding during the camp but received their kits to continue their adventure at home.
In addition to coding, students engaged in a variety of other activities to build soft skills including teamwork, critical thinking, problem solving, communication, and more. One particularly popular exercise was "Making a PB&J." In this activity, students practiced giving clear and direct instructions to Jared, the Makerspace Director, on how to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. This fun and messy exercise highlighted the importance of precise communication and detailed explanations, skills essential in coding.
The camp also included creative and artistic activities. Students created glow paintings in an art space illuminated with black lights, galaxy displays, and glow-in-the-dark stars. This activity allowed students to express their creativity while exploring the intersection of art and science.
Engineering activities were another major component of the camp. Students tested stomp rockets, learning how the force of their stomp and the angle of the launcher affected the direction and trajectory of the rockets. They also had the opportunity to plan and build their own rockets, discovering the importance of creating airtight and aerodynamic designs.
The first middle school STEAM camp at BB2C was a resounding success, providing students with a well-rounded and immersive experience in the world of science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics. The camp not only sparked curiosity and creativity but also equipped students with valuable problem-solving and communication skills. BB2C looks forward to hosting more events like this in the future, continuing to inspire and educate the next generation of innovators.
To learn more about STEAM for middle school students, and the BB2C Makerspace, email makerspace@bb2careers.org.