Grapeland Library hosting STEM trailer exhibit for kids on May 30

By Cody Thompson

Messenger Reporter

CROCKETT – A science, technology, engineering and mathematics event will be held for students, third grade through eighth grade, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Grapeland Public Library on Tuesday, May 30.

The event, sponsored by the Texas Alliance for Minorities in Engineering, will have a trailer, named the Trailblazer II, with exhibit areas featuring the different aspects of STEM. The exhibit areas include: energy, space, biological technology/medicine, weather and aerodynamics.

“We here at TAME are focused on giving the kids hands-on experience with all of the equipment that we bring, because we feel that makes for a much more fun and engaging experience,” TAME program coordinator Lindsey Carmichael told the Messenger on Tuesday. “Not only do we give them hands-on experience, but our workers will explain the technical aspects of how each machine works and the reasoning behind each exhibit and piece of equipment.”

In the energy exhibit, students will learn about energy conservation, the transformation and transmission of energy, power generation and alternative energy sources. The equipment that students will work with in this exhibit includes: a bicycle wheel generator, energy tubes, a solar cell and wind turbines.

In the space exhibit, students will learn about space flight, gravity, spacecraft propulsion, working in space, the impact of solar activity on the earth and various NASA products that are used in everyday life. The equipment that students will work with in the space exhibit includes: a thermal imaging device and a demonstration on relative gravity.

In the bio tech/medicine exhibit, students will learn about pathogens, bones and bone structure, body temperatures, X-rays and robotics prostheses. The equipment that students will have the opportunity to work with includes: a robotic arm, a crhomatographer and a high-definition microscope. The students also will be given a demonstration about genetic mutation.

In the weather exhibit, students will learn about weather forecasting, predictive technology and the science behind tornadoes. In the weather exhibit, students will be given the opportunity to give their own weather broadcast, go into a tornado chamber, as well as operate a hindcaster, a plasma ball and a Van de Graaff Generator.

In the aerodynamics exhibit, students will learn about civil engineering and aerodynamic shapes and principles. In the aerodynamics exhibit, students will have the opportunity to enter a wind tunnel and conduct a Bernoulli’s experiment.

“We (TAME) want to make sure that every student has the opportunity to learn about STEM, succeed in the field and go off to pursue an amazing and worthwhile career,” Carmichael said. “These trailers are basically moving museums, and to see the reactions of the students as they come out of them are amazing. It’s great to see a kid that otherwise might not have had the chance to learn about STEM in this particular fashion become excited about it.”

This event is free to the public.

“We encourage parents who have children who are interested in science, technology, engineering or mathematics to come by and check out this educational trailer,” Grapeland Public Library Director Ashley Corns told the Messenger. “It will take about 30 to 45 minutes to go through it and it’s air-conditioned.”

To learn more about the exhibit areas or about TAME or any of the organization’s other activities, visit www.tame.org.

Cody Thompson may be reached via e-mail at [email protected].

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