Southside Elementary STEAM Night entertains with science and art

The line between art and science is a thin one, and that’s just one of the lessons Southside Elementary School students learned at Thursday’s STEAM Night at the school.

Over 300 children explored the elementary school’s open house. Booths and demonstrations celebrated science, technology, engineering, the arts and math. 

Kids and parents had over 30 interactive booths and stations to explore. 

In one demonstration, a law-enforcement officer controlled a bomb-squad robot. In a specially outfitted trailer, the fire department hosted fire-safety training. 

Students got the chance to experiment with simple programming commands at a technology station, using iPads as input devices for colorful remote-controlled balls.

Music teacher Sergei Glushonko showed a youthful audience how tuning forks work and explained musical principals. Outside the school, students got the chance to peer through high-powered telescopes thanks to the Sidewalk Science Center. 

“It’s good!” said Maya Biter, age 6, of her view through the telescopes. “I saw the moon and the sun.”

There was even a table displaying pieces of meteorites. Children and parents were impressed to learn that the ferrous rocks they handled were over 4.5 billion years old.

The annual event began as STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) Night in 2020, but for its return from a hiatus due to COVID, this year’s open house included the arts.

This STEAM Night was inspired by the work of Guy Harvey, a renowned marine wildlife artist, scientist and conservationist.

In keeping with the theme, student-made art on display depicted a variety of marine life, including sharks.

“Its about getting (students) excited about different facets of science that art and science go together and showing them your interest has a place to grow,” said Lorri Alba, STEAM Night coordinator.