Wiesbaden Elementary’s 2nd Grade STEM Day Sparks Creativity and Critical Thinking

Wiesbaden Elementary School's 2nd Grade STEM Day, a bi-monthly event that began with the opening of the 21st Century building, celebrates curiosity and creativity, allowing students to explore science, technology, engineering, and math through engaging hands-on activities. The latest STEM Day was packed with experiences that challenged students’ imaginations and critical thinking skills.

Ms. Karen Sanders led the catapult activity, where students-built catapults from simple materials and tested how far they could launch small objects, fostering an understanding of physics and engineering. Mrs. Syla Seltzer introduced thaumatropes, guiding students in creating spinning optical illusions to learn about persistence of vision. Ms. Carmen Hernandez oversaw a maze-building activity, encouraging students to experiment with pathways and obstacles to guide balls from start to finish. Mrs. Clark facilitated a sink-or-float experiment, helping students explore buoyancy and density, while Mrs. Laura Lynch led an activity on the water cycle, using interactive demonstrations to teach about evaporation, condensation, and precipitation.

The day also included a mock trial led by Mrs. Monica Smith and Ms. Krista Wagner, where students decided whether the Big Bad Wolf from the beloved fairytale was guilty or innocent. Mrs. Gabriela Nostro, a parent and attorney, volunteered to support the trial, stating, “Introducing legal thinking early is really just exposure to critical thinking. Using STEM Day and a familiar base like a fairytale to host a mock trial keeps kids thinking, asking questions, and connecting new concepts far past the school day.”

The students were actively engaged throughout the day, collaborating with peers, sharing ideas, and applying theoretical concepts to real-world challenges. In addition to the bi-monthly STEM Days, the 2nd-grade teachers plan either a STEM Day or a Book Café Day each month. The Book Café provides a cozy, literary environment where students can relax, read, and discuss books, fostering a love of reading and sparking thoughtful discussions. Both events offer enriching experiences that inspire young learners and show that education can be fun, interactive, and deeply rewarding.