The West Haven Community House Children and Youth Services Program held a ‘Fun with STEAM’ (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) Family Night. Parents and students participated in hands-on learning activities that provided a fun way to learn, practice, utilize and strengthen essential STEAM skills.
Much fun was had by all as they experimented with recipes to produce polymers of different consistencies resulting in Fluffy Slime. Straw rocket making was a blast as they tried out different fin shapes and their positions to see how it affected accuracy and range of flight. Magnetic painting allowed for creativity and discovery of how different shaped metal objects were mobilized. Tower construction using various sizes of cups and buckets allowed families to compete with building the highest tower thinking about stability, strength and design.
Family events are made possible by a grant that was awarded to the Children and Youth Services Program by the CT State Department of Education. The goal of the events is to offer academic support to students and families in a fun and engaging manner. Other events have focused on mathematics and literacy with participants taking part in active games.
Winter Olympics was the theme for mathematics and while families participated in hurling, skiing, skating, ice hockey, biathalon and luge they practiced measurement, time, estimating, money and more.
“Who ever thought math could be so much fun?” asked one of the parents as they skated down the room on their felt skates. “Our goal is not to replicate school but to create engaging opportunites for students and parents together to discover alternative methods to support and enhance academic achievement,” said Carol James, Children and Youth Services Director.