The following is from the Achieve Foundation:
Students in grades K-8 in the South Orange & Maplewood Schools and their parents can “make something” at MAKER MADNESS, a free community event hosted by the Achieve Foundation of South Orange & Maplewood. It will offer exhibits and hands-on activities to allow kids and parents to find out first-hand what STEAM education (Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Math) is all about.
This event is at Columbia High School on Saturday, May 2 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. SO/M teachers, local merchants and community members will present Maker Madness offerings at stations, and the public is encouraged to support the free event by sponsoring a station. To be a sponsor or for more information, go to achievemakermadness.org or call 973-378-2055.
Donations of used Legos also are appreciated.
Fair-goers will stroll from one maker station to the next to try science and engineering activities that produce things that crawl, shoot, roll and fly. They’ll see demonstrations of astonishing new technology, art projects that show how things are made and ways to discover math at work in things we do every day. There will be opportunities for students and parents, regardless of interests, skills or educational background, to try their hands at projects from 3-D printers and robotics to origami, Lego animation and crafts.
In hosting Maker Madness, the Achieve Foundation aims to open up the exciting new world of STEAM education to the community. Event co-chairs Larry Boyer and Aileen Nicoletti are planning the event to show that all students can learn and excel by tapping into the myriad, enjoyable ways to learn, using “creative problem solving” and designing and making all kinds of things with the help of new generation technology.
“The South Orange & Maplewood school district is adopting the new approach by integrating STEAM concepts and skills into the curriculum to prepare students for higher education and employment in today’s changing world,” says Achieve’s STEAM committee chair, Sarah Iozzio. “Maker Madness is Achieve’s way of supporting the process by raising awareness and helping students and parents to embrace it. The beauty of the maker movement is that it offers a wider range of learning modalities that will enable more children to reach their potential. We’re doing our part to ensure that every student in the district can reap the benefits.”
Students must be accompanied by their parents at the event.
