LEWISTOWN — Students at Lewistown Intermediate School welcomed the public March 12 for the school’s annual STEAM Fair, showcasing projects that highlight science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics.

All 22 classrooms displayed projects during the event, while 54 students also completed individual projects at home to share with classmates and the community. Projects ranged from classic experiments such as volcanoes, slime and Oobleck to creative entries like “Rainbow in a Jar,” “Acid Attack!,” “Cookie Chemistry,” “Tussey Mountain” and “Refraction Action.”

Teachers and evaluators reviewed the individual projects, with students explaining their work and answering questions. Each participant received a wooden ribbon created by students in Rebecca ConnerMiller’s class along with written feedback.

Several local organizations and businesses also participated in the fair, offering demonstrations on how STEAM concepts are used in their work. Participating groups included First Energy, PA Rural Water, the Mifflin County Library, Mifflin County 4-H, The Academy’s Early Childhood program, the Lewistown Police Department, and Lincoln Caverns and Discovery Space.

Submitted photo
Kurt Wagner and Mike Garrity of PA Rural Water explain watersheds by using an augmented reality sandbox that projects and continually updates a topographical relief map over a surface of sand during a STEAM Fair held March 12. As students move the sand the topography relief reinforces concepts like elevation relief and contour lines to Archer and Ariadne Brehman and mother.

Food trucks were also on site for the event, with several vendors donating a portion of their proceeds to benefit Lewistown Intermediate School students. Additional activities included a book fair, a Chinese raffle featuring donated items, and a make-and-take STEAM activity supported by volunteers from Mifflin County High School’s Key Club.

Proceeds from the event will help support student activities such as field day, yearbooks and field trips.

Submitted photo
Jennifer McClain of Lincoln’s Caverns explains groundwater to Isabelle Maben using a model during a STEAM Fair held March 12.