MIDLAND, Texas (KOSA) – For another year, Midland College has invited Midland ISD 6th graders to a day of interactive learning experiences.
On Friday, March 28, Midland College held their annual Science Extravaganza.
Over 1,000 6th grade students from Midland ISD schools participated in this year’s event.
“I think it’s really important to get kids excited about math and science,” said Damon Kennedy, the President of Midland College.
This event focuses on teaching students science, technology, engineering and math skills, also known as STEM skills
“It’s really important for kids to see where science and math can take them in the future, how applicable it is to current day events and just different pieces of their life,” Lori Haltom, the Executive Director of College And Career Connections at Midland College said.
The students rotate around 8 stations doing different hand-on activities.
“We were learning about rocks and we got to touch the different types of rocks and feel where they came from,“ said Roman Walker, a 6th Grader at Santa Rita Elementary.
This year’s activities included chemistry experiments, an obstacle course, a robotics session, math games and fingerprinting.
“Getting to go through an obstacle course. See how their bodies react and how science has so much to do with that. We’ve got the Petroleum Museum here today helping with open and closed circuits,” Haltom said.
Ending both sessions was an interactive demonstration where the students worked together to create an earthquake.
“We’re going to get 500 6th graders to jump up in the air and land and measure that,” said Haltom.
The Science Extravaganza not only aims to get kids interested in the STEM field, but also shows kids around a college campus.
“So that they know we’re here and that there are opportunities for them when they graduate high school,” Kennedy said.
13 MISD schools were on the Midland College campus for the event and they hope to expand the event in the future.
“We are hoping to expand next year. Adding other school districts that are in the immediate vicinity,” said Haltom.
Midland College’s Science Extravaganza has been going on for over 20 years, with a brief hiatus during the COVID-19 Pandemic.
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