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K-State Today

June 21, 2022

Attend 2022 STEM Showcase

Submitted by Amanda B. Causey

The Summer STEM Institute for students in the fifth through eighth grades on the Kansas State University Manhattan campus will have its STEM Institute Showcase from 9-11 a.m. Friday, June 24, in the Main Ballroom at the K-State Student Union. The institute, a partnership between the university's College of Education and Manhattan-Ogden USD 383, is wrapping up its 12th summer. 

The showcase, which will highlight classes offered in the three-week institute, is free and open to the public. Participants, teachers, family, faculty, community members and education and legislative officials are invited to attend. Light refreshments will be available.

Nearly 30 topics were offered this summer, all relating to STEM, an acronym for science, technology, engineering and math.

Approximately 275 students attended this summer's camp. Among the new topics were Learn to Crochet, Rube Goldberg Machines, Treehouse Architecture, Dream Green, Geology Rocks, Tiny Houses/Big Learning, Disney Dream Designs and Pop Art Photography. Plus, some old favorites returned, including Drones and Coding of Spheros, CSI and Thinking Through Games. Sessions were from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. Monday through Thursday on June 6-9, June 13-16 and June 20-23 and were based at the College of Education in Bluemont Hall at K-State. Classes take place at various locations across campus, as well as in the community.

Lori Goodson, College of Education assistant professor and Summer STEM Institute coordinator for K-State, said the showcase will feature a variety of demonstrations and displays, focusing on the students' hands-on activities throughout the three-week institute.

"Local middle schoolers, assisted by our College of Education future teachers and the USD 383 teachers, will lead the showcase," Goodson said. "It's a great opportunity to see what the students have been up to for the past three weeks."

Paula Hough, executive director of teaching and learning for USD 383, said she is always excited to see the joy that students experience with the STEM Institute, and the showcase is an opportunity for others to see that, as well.

"I think business leaders and the Manhattan community will appreciate the efforts of the district and the College of Education have made to expose more students to STEM fields," Hough said.

In addition to the middle schoolers, K-State College of Education's pre-service teachers assist the lead teachers in teaching the classes and gain extensive field experience through the camp.

"They are mentored by some of the best teachers in the region," Goodson said. "It's a great opportunity for our K-State students to prepare to lead their own classrooms."