Lynwood – Scores of elementary students crafted miniature powered windmills while their parents learned how to prepare for college on Feb. 19 during Lynwood Unified’s fourth annual Noche De Ciencias, or Science Night, an event designed to promote interest in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields.

Nearly 200 Lynwood Unified elementary students and their parents attended the engineering workshops and college planning meetings conducted in English and Spanish at Marco Antonio Firebaugh High School.

“We’re always looking to include and promote opportunities that will enhance our students’ learning experiences and prepare them for college and careers,” Lynwood Superintendent Paul Gothold said. “This event showcases our mission to connect more students to STEM in a collaborative and comprehensive way, while incorporating options for life after high school.”

Twenty students from Firebaugh and Lynwood high schools’ chapters of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers guided the elementary students as they built their windmills – which produced enough power to lift weights – and other STEM-related activities.

Students also constructed geodomes out of straws, mixed elephant toothpaste (a reaction of hydrogen peroxide, yeast, water and soap) and assembled vinegar and baking soda-powered cars.

“It’s great to see our elementary students collaborating with our high schoolers in these workshops. This is the type of learning all school districts strive for,” Director of Secondary Education Yesenia Fernandez, Ph.D. said.

Parents, meanwhile, learned about college preparedness, financial literacy and potential careers for their children in the realm of STEM studies.

“Our bright students and innovative teachers and staff continue to astound me,” Board President Alma-Delia Renteria said. “Our schools work hard to put on high-quality events like this one that build partnerships, encourage our students to make discoveries and learn together and spread our wealth of knowledge to all corners of our District.”

Next year’s Noche De Ciencias will be held at Lynwood High School.

PHOTO CAPTIONS:

SCIENCE1: Lynwood Unified elementary students wear goggles as part of a project they took part in for Noche De Ciencias, a Feb. 19 event designed to promote interest in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields at Marco Antonio Firebaugh High School.

SCIENCE2: Lynwood Unified elementary students create elephant toothpaste (a reaction of hydrogen peroxide, yeast, water and soap) with the help of high school engineering students as part of Noche De Ciencias , a Feb. 19 event designed to promote interest in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields at Marco Antonio Firebaugh High School.

SCIENCE3: A Lynwood Unified elementary student prepares to launch an air rocket he created with the help of high school engineering students during Noche De Ciencias, a Feb. 19 event designed to promote interest in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields at Marco Antonio Firebaugh High School.