A fourth grader in the Trigg County Schools, Nora Williams could have spent her Thursday night doing anything else in Cadiz — a cold, wet, dreary evening, perhaps watching some TV or reading a book.
Instead, she and scores of other kids in the community, alongside their parents, filled the Elementary School’s gymnasium on Main Street, and rolled through several stations geared toward science, technology, engineering and mathematics — or STEAM — learning.
Williams colored a postcard, mailed it to space, and is expecting it to make a return trip.
She gathered up some friends, and worked on building a large standing tower.
And she worked on a small laptop, programming little robots to obey her commands.
An aspiring preschool mathematics teacher or hospital employee, Williams said she wanted to be there in order to “learn even more.”
Alongside his mother, Mikayla, and his little sister, a young kindergartner was able to say his full name, his age, what he built, and the name he gave it.
This is the second time in three years TCPS has held this event, organized by the likes of Chief Information Officer Rory Fundora and Technology Support Manager Jonathan Pepper, and something fitting for all ages in the district.
Why do this? Why teach these concepts? Fundora said the efforts are two-fold.
The timing, Fundora added, couldn’t be better. The Christmas holiday, alongside several birthdays, means kids might turn to their parents and ask for a small robotics kit, a set of LEGO’s or a small, safe chemistry set — seeking to learn as a hobby.
Science, engineering and mathematics, but especially science, have been difficult subjects not just for Trigg County’s students — but for the Commonwealth, in general. STEAM-like careers are in high demand, and yet over the past two years, the kids of Kentucky have stumbled with proficient and distinguished scoring in these skill sets.
Gatherings like Thursday, Fundora said, can begin to break those barriers.
