Annual expo showcases students’ science, tech, engineering, art and math know-how
The Tuolumne County Superintendent of Schools Office (TCSOS) announced the winners of the 2023 TCSOS STEAM Expo: Science & Engineering Fair held March 10.
An awards ceremony that followed the exposition of student and community STEAM activities. The evening event celebrated science, technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM) in our schools and community. More than 200 students participated from seven local public and private schools. The STEAM Expo was open to the public and included many hands-on exhibits from different community partners.
Columbia College instructor Glen White taught students about magnets. The Tuolumne County Arts Alliance involved families in creating recycled art holograms and displayed student projects for the “Don’t Trash Tuolumne” poster contest. The USFS, Stanislaus National Forest, and the CDFW, California Aquarium Education Project, introduced participants to the natural flora and fauna of Tuolumne County. The UCCE 4-H Ambassadors engaged youth with their activity titled “Plant, a Person.” The TCSOS STEM department included hands-on math games and engineering design projects for all to enjoy.
Students from Soulsbyville School’s fourth grade submitted scientific illustrations, “Ocean Organisms,” on display, and the fifth-grade students showed their engineering talents by creating various water collection devices.
Belleview school first graders modeled clay organisms highlighting structures that help the various organisms survive. The Belleview middle school technology and media class had their school newsletter, “The Eagle Eye,” on display for all to see.
Curtis Creek elementary third graders created roller coasters to drop a ping pong ball in a cup. A group of students came to teach participants how to code “Dash & Dot” robots, and the middle school students created and built various Rube Goldberg Devices and SPIKE Prime robots.
The K - 5 Pinecrest Expedition Academy had several entries in Scientific Inquiry and Engineering Design projects, Rube Goldberg Devices, and Science Fiction writing. The younger students developed a “Water Cycle Diorama.”
Summerville High School students from the Biomedical Pathways class demonstrated how to properly use a blood pressure cuff, draw blood, and taught participants about the heart and brain.
After reviewing the sixth through 12th grade Scientific Inquiry and Engineering design project, judges selected the 2023 winners, and the Sonora Lions Club provided the funds to purchase awards.
The STEAM Spirit Award was given to a project that the organizing committee determined to exemplify the integration of STEAM: Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics. The award went to fourth grade Pinecrest Expedition Academy student Carter Hard.
The winner for Best of
Show and the Karen Bakerville Smith perpetual trophy went to Columbia Elementary School’s Aeri Mathews for their project “Fur, Feathers, or Fat.”