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West Hartford students celebrate National STEM Day one egg drop at a time

The day challenged students to embrace hands-on learning and consider careers as a scientist or engineer.

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. — Exploring the world of science, technology, engineering and math was the focus at schools across the country Friday as classes celebrated National STEM Day.

It’s a day that challenges students to embrace hands-on learning and consider careers as a scientist or engineer.

At Smith STEM Elementary in West Hartford, students don’t crack under pressure, and on National STEM Day, they hoped that eggs would do the same.

“We’re going to build an egg drop contraption to make sure the egg doesn’t break,” Raya Pokorny, a fifth-grade student, said.

“We have to protect the egg because someone will drop it off the roof,” Xamell Johnson, another fifth-grade student, chimed in.

It’s a collaborative exercise in critical thinking to whisk up their creativity, that educators say can help prepare them their future.

“We’re able to help them with engineering and doing hands-on experiences that will hopefully help them in this STEM world that we live in and maybe get a STEM job someday,” Jackie Makarewicz, a fourth-grade teacher, said.

Makarewicz said these interactive assignments make all the difference to developing minds.

“I think that our students are more engaged; that’s the biggest part of it, engagement for students,” she said. “You get a lot more buy-in, and I feel like there’s much more ownership to what they’re learning.”

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Educators said the activity teaches valuable lessons about determination and perseverance.

“If your first idea doesn’t work, you change it and try again. If that works, great. If it doesn’t, try again,” Pokorny said.

Principal Ashley Callan hopes the project also inspires a career as a scientist or engineer.

“Many students don’t know who they could become in the future unless we’re putting activities like this in front of them,” Callan said. “It’s really important for us to be able to give them as many opportunities as possible over their elementary years as they're really figuring out who they want to be and then eventually we're hoping that they're ready to be able to take on those professions when they get into their post-secondary programs.”

The goal is to inspire the next generation of problem solvers one egg drop at a time.

“I’m just hoping that the foundation for an interest in stem starts here in the elementary school,” Callan said.

The principal said 59 eggs survived the fall from the roof and 60 cracked.

If you live in West Hartford and have a child interested in science or math, Smith STEM School accepts students from all over the district.

Here is the website for details on how to be considered.

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Bridgette Bjorlo is an anchor and reporter at FOX61 News. She can be reached at bbjorlo@fox61.com. Follow her on FacebookX, and Instagram.

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