High Road School of Hartford Primary Hosts Annual S.T.E.A.M. Fair

Annual S.T.E.A.M. Fair Celebrates Learning and Creativity

The halls of High Road School of Hartford Primary were filled with creativity and discovery as students, families, and district partners gathered for the school’s annual S.T.E.A.M. Fair. This special event celebrated the incredible growth and accomplishments of students throughout the year while showcasing the many ways S.T.E.A.M. learning comes alive in the school’s K–8 special education classrooms.

Parents, caregivers, district representatives, and community members toured student showcases and participated in hands-on activities alongside students. Additionally, the event highlighted students’ creativity, problem-solving skills, confidence, and joy. Students demonstrated these qualities while exploring science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics..

Inspiring Exploration Through Hands-On Learning

A major part of this year’s fair success came from occupational therapist and S.T.E.A.M. teacher Ms. Mele. Throughout the second semester, she transformed S.T.E.A.M. learning into an exciting adventure for students. She also led hands-on projects that encouraged exploration, critical thinking, and teamwork.

Students celebrated National Turtle Day through themed learning experiences. They also designed “the playground of your dreams” engineering projects. Students created beautiful mixed-media art pieces using a variety of textures and materials. Other activities encouraged students to work with their hands, solve problems, and think outside the box.

Interactive Stations at the S.T.E.A.M. Fair

During the S.T.E.A.M. Fair, families and students had the opportunity to participate in a variety of exciting interactive stations. Students investigated fingerprints like real scientists, explored bubble science, created slime, experimented with Oobleck, and tested their thinking skills at the estimation station. These hands-on activities encouraged curiosity, sensory exploration, collaboration, and problem-solving while creating opportunities for students and families to learn together.

The Egg Drop Challenge Takes Center Stage

The excitement continued through the end of the event with one of the most anticipated activities of the day – the egg drop challenge. Students worked hard to design and build creative egg protection systems intended to keep their eggs safe during a dramatic rooftop drop. Students and families watched with excitement as Ms. Mele appeared on the school roof to test each design. She carefully dropped the student creations below while the crowd cheered in anticipation. Students eagerly watched to see which designs successfully protected their eggs from breaking, showcasing their engineering, teamwork, and problem-solving skills in a fun and memorable way.

Celebrating Student Success

The S.T.E.A.M. Fair was a celebration of innovation, perseverance, and student success. Watching students proudly explain their work, demonstrate their creations, and actively engage families in activities highlighted the powerful impact of experiential learning in special education.

Staff at the High Road School of Hartford Primary believe every student deserves opportunities to explore, create, and shine. This year’s S.T.E.A.M. Fair was a wonderful reminder that when students are given the tools and encouragement to explore their ideas, amazing things can happen.