Where else can you find a tornado in a jar except the STEM Fair, with science, technology, engineering and math projects from the St. Thomas-St. John District’s public, private and parochial schools?
The fair, held at the University of the Virgin Islands’ Sports and Fitness Center, kicked off early Wednesday with projects from the district’s middle, junior high and high school students.
Speaking Friday, Department of Education STEM Director Ann Hodge Richbourg said she was impressed with this week’s showing.
"I really like that we were able to see a lot in every area, from the technology to the math," Richbourg said. "On the elementary level, I feel that the students definitely turned it up a notch this year, and really took their time to create and understand the projects they have on display. Our secondary school students also brought out some impressive projects, and I think that shows that our schools are also taking the time to integrate more hands-on and comprehensive STEM activities into the classrooms. I would really love for them to continue working with STEM in the classrooms all year round, from the beginning to the end."
The mission of the Department’s STEM Program is to ensure that all students – from the elementary level to Adult Education students – are given a solid foundation and exposed to high quality experiences in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math. Among the standouts:
- 11-year-old Addison Georges from Joseph Gomez Elementary School shows off his battery-powered magnet display, and demonstrated to other attendees how many volts is needed to pick up everything from paper clips to nails.
- Khaila Pruiett from Lockhart Elementary School learned all about hydroelectricity while putting together her impressive display. Her project included a real hydroelectric pump that Pruiett showed off to other fair participants.
- Ulla F. Muller Elementary School third-grader Tafari McFarlane demonstrated how he used a regular glass jar, water and a marble to create a tornado. McFarlane said he learned all about tornadoes with his project, and thought it was interesting that this "circular-shaped whirlpool of wind has the ability to destroy everything in its path."
- Jamoi Hull, a fourth grader at Leonard Dober Elementary, constructed a series of parallel circuits that powered a pair of real light bulbs. Hull said that what he loved most about his project is that it showed how anyone can construct an electric circuit from materials around their house – no installation needed!
- One of the more popular projects Friday was the "Film Canister Rocket," created by Dober Elementary students Samalia Wyllis and Helita Wrensford. The duo drew large audiences as they demonstrated how Alka Selzer tablets and Sprite chemically combined to create a gas powerful enough to dramatically blow the top off a plastic film canister
- Gladys Abraham Elementary student Sumaiyah-Nadira Richardson showed her love of photography and computer graphics with a cinematic poster she created for Friday’s fair. The poster featured Richardson as Cinderella, descending the steps of Government House in the evening. Interestingly, each part of Richardson’s body, from her face to her blue ballgown, was layered in using Photoshop.
"What I really love about doing this is that I can be creative and come up with new things all the time," Richardson said.
