Godwin Heights — North Godwin Elementary put a different spin on its annual STEM Night this year, with the event including a hands-on tour of possible careers in science, technology, engineering and math.
Representatives from Steelcase, Lake Michigan Credit Union and resin technology manufacturer Arkema attended the event to highlight the STEM-related careers available within their companies.
“We love being at these types of science programs because we are able to highlight what we do and hopefully spark the students’ interest in science,” said Miriam Serrato, linguistic coordinator for Arkema.
The event featured several hands-on activities, such as creating 3D pictures with 3D pens, building with glow sticks and LEGO, programming robots, and cleaning up oil spills. Businesses set up booths in the hallway leading to the activities, with representatives explaining their work and its connection to STEM.
LMCU Branch Manager Brianna Misiak set up a register with plastic coins and tested students’ skills in making change.
“How would you make 77 cents?” Misiak asked ninth-grader Maci Slack.
Maci took two quarters, two dimes, a nickel and two pennies from the cash register and placed them on the table.
“I love seeing how people make change,” Slack said of the coin game that utilizes math skills. “It’s really fascinating because everyone does it differently.”
Down the hall, representatives from Steelcase demonstrated how their chairs are constructed, while Arkema’s production manager Tarick Chaleby talked about their products and how chemistry plays a role in production.
“AstroTurf is also a product that has come from chemistry,” Chaleby said. “We make resin and every Coke can that you purchase has the resin we make right here in Grand Rapids.
“So chemistry is all around you.”
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