STEAM It UP!
RIF of NOVA launched a new initiative called STEAM It Up! for four Title 1 schools in Northern Virginia, thanks to a partnership with Amazon and Amazon Web Services (AWS) in Communities. The program was created to provide local students with age-appropriate books and STEAM activities in the designated RIF of NOVA elementary schools: Cora Kelly, Drew, Groveton, and Marumsco Hills. The program ran in November and December 2023 and included a maze creation activity for younger children and a bridge building activity for older elementary students. Each child was able to choose a book that focuses on science, technology, engineering, the arts, and math. Activity materials were provided by Building Momentum. Graphics were provided by French Press Printing.
Cora Kelly School for Math, Science and Technology (Alexandria)
"This is the best day that I had in the world!" -- Kevin, Cora Kelly second grader
Cora Kelly librarian and NOVA RIF liaison Cathy Guthrie, along with STEM specialist Kelley Organek, wasted no time in getting started with a week-long activity schedule that included story reading, building fun, and book picking. The K-3 group constructed a maze using cardboard pieces to build a box, pieces of straw and pipe cleaner to create the maze, and a ball to fit around the obstacles. All students were then able to pick a book on a STEAM-related theme.
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Fourth and fifth graders took on the engineering challenging of building a bridge from popsicle sticks and clay magic. Cathy Guthrie read them the book Secret Engineer: How Emily Roebling Built the Brooklyn Bridge to inspire the building juices of these budding engineers!
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Dr. Charles R. Drew Elementary School (Arlington)
Young engineers at this Arlington school worked on their STEAM It Up! project during several classroom sessions. In teams, they filled out an "Expectations for Engineers" plan of action before they began to build and create. Librarian Dora Sue Black (also NOVA RIF liaison and board member) and STEM coordinator Kirstin Reddick led the children as they tried (and failed) and tried again! The goal for the older children was to use keva blocks or domino squares to build a creation that would be strong enough to hold the weight of a book. Would their creations work?
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Trying, trying, and trying again...can we make our structure stable enough to hold weight?
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Wait for it... YES! The joy of success!
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Groveton Elementary School (Fairfax County)
Groveton children assembled in the library to build their projects. Librarian and NOVA RIF liaison Eileen Findley and library assistant Maria Meeks were thrilled that Groveton kids were given this opportunity. Since Groveton does not have a STEM program (yet!), Findley said it was a unique chance for the kids to build anything like this. Books were available in English and Spanish, and they went like hotcakes! Volunteers from the NOVA RIF board and from Amazon/AWS pitched in to help the children build at all school locations. And just look at the happy faces as maze pieces turned into fun!
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Srinija Desiraju, Solutions Architect at AWS, was one of the many volunteers.
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The fourth through sixth grade students went about their bridge building business with purpose -- and pride -- when their structures actually held up!
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Marumsco Hills Elementary School (Prince William County)
Q from NOVA RIF board member: "Are you ready for RIF of NOVA?"
A from student: "I'm always ready for RIF!"
A from student: "I'm always ready for RIF!"
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So began the STEAM It Up! week of activities at Marumsco Hills Elementary School. Children at this Prince William County school were treated to an extra feature as they built their mazes and bridges and selected their keep-forever books. Several Amazon staff members spoke to the kids about their jobs and how to be good leaders, while also encouraging the kids to consider a future in a STEAM field. |
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Wilberte Paul, AWS Community Engagement Manager, worked with a few budding engineers
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AWS Global Procurement Leader Nicole Thompson shared career ideas with young builders
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K-3 students enjoyed their maze-building activity AND their new STEAM-related book!
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STEAM It Up! It takes a village to STEAM ahead!
Cora Kelly STEAM team with library assistant Linda Berry (l), STEM coordinator Kelley Organek (m), and librarian/RIF of NOVA liaison Cathy Guthrie (r)
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Drew students in middle are flanked by STEM coordinator Kirstin Riddick (l-r), librarian/NOVA RIF liaison and board member Dora Sue Black, and Cynthia Caglar, senior manager Amazon in the Community
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Groveton library assistant Maria Meeks (l) and librarian and NOVA RIF liaison Eileen Findley did a lot of prep work for each class so the children could focus on building.
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(l-r) Marumsco Hills librarian Jessica Nelson, AWS team members Jermery Johnson, Bryan Crawford, and Nicole Thompson, and NOVA RIF liaison Sharon Nottingham
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