Wilkinson Elementary makes concepts hands-on during STEAM Night

STEAM Night at Wilkinson Elementary included a new twist this year. 

As the event was underway on Feb. 5, not only did the school's cafeteria feature tables of science-themed activities, but there were also exotic cars and cans of healthy soft drinks in the parking lot. 

Angela Shideler, STEAM integration coach at Wilkinson Elementary School, said the partnerships added to the offerings at the event, which helps showcase the school's educational mission.

"We're the only nationally STEM-certified school in the state of Florida at this point, so we want to showcase what we do and what we're learning every day in the classrooms," she said.

This year's event, focused on the physical sciences, was themed around superheroes. 

"We really wanted kids to understand that any job you do, you're a superhero, and so we tied that in with the stations," Shideler said. 

"Most of these kids have never seen cars like this," said Charlie Haney of Team Lambo, which provided the vehicles. 

The club is visiting schools in tandem with Steel Supplements, a recently founded company whose drinks include Sodi Pop, a sugar-free healthy soda alternative for kids, and Lamborghini of Sarasota, which is supporting the efforts, for a School Health Tour. 

"Our goal is all of the schools in the district by the end of the year," Haney said.